suspected gangsters fatally shot
A dramatic incident unfolded in Yala town, Siaya County, on Tuesday night when two suspected gang members were gunned down by police during a botched robbery attempt. The encounter, which occurred around 10 p.m., also left a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer nursing injuries.
According to police reports, the two suspects, both believed to be in their mid-30s to early 40s, stormed into a small shop operated by a local female trader. Armed with crude weapons, they allegedly attempted to rob her of her day’s earnings. Their plan, however, quickly unraveled when the shopkeeper raised an alarm, screaming for help.
Her cries caught the attention of a DCI officer who happened to be patrolling the nearby streets. The officer, attached to Yala Police Station, rushed to the scene to intervene. Upon spotting him, the suspects panicked and tried to flee, but not before violently confronting the officer.
Gem Yala Sub-county Police Commander, Charles Wafula, confirmed that the men struck the officer on the chest with a metal rod during the scuffle. Acting in self-defense, the officer drew his service pistol and opened fire, fatally shooting both assailants on the spot.
The injured officer was rushed to Yala Sub-county Hospital, where he was admitted in stable condition. The bodies of the suspects were also taken to the same facility’s mortuary.
Police later identified one of the deceased as Charles Odhiambo Ojwang’, widely known by his alias Buda. He was reportedly a notorious figure in the area and had been on the radar of law enforcement. The identity of the second suspect is still being established.
Commander Wafula noted that the two men were part of a gang believed to be behind a string of recent robberies that have unsettled Yala residents. He assured the public that police patrols would be intensified to curb crime and restore confidence among locals.
Residents who gathered at the scene expressed both relief and concern—relief that two dangerous men had been stopped, but concern over the growing trend of violent robberies in the area.
suspected gangsters fatally shot
