Three Shot, Injured in Confrontation Between Police and Suspected Thugs in Mathare 

At least three people including a seven-year-old boy were shot and injured in a confrontation between suspected thugs and police in Mathare slums, Nairobi.

Police said the other victims included a 21 and 27-year-old pedestrians.

They were shot and injured in the stomach and legs, police said of the Wednesday February 4 evening drama.

According to police, a gang snatched a mobile phone from a passenger on a public service vehicle along Juja Road and vanished to the slum.

Such incidents have been common on the route amid police operations to tame the trend.

Members of the public who had witnessed the incident raised an alarm and alerted police on patrol on Juja Road.

This prompted a chase through Nigeria Gate, but the suspects disappeared toward Kampala Ndogo, police said.

Shortly after, the police say they heard gunshots coming from the direction the suspects had taken. They decided to retreat and later received information from MSF Hospital that three victims with gunshot wounds had been rushed there.

It is suspected the gunmen shot the three. But there is also a likelihood the three were hit by police bullets during the chase. Police deny they shot at the suspects in the chase but added an investigation had been launched.

A joint security team combed the area to apprehend the suspects in vain.

In the same area, a suspect was arrested after he stabbed and seriously wounded a man in a robbery.

The man was headed for work on Wednesday morning when he was attacked. He resisted prompting the attacker to stab him in the stomach and grabbed his mobile phone.

He was rushed to the hospital and admitted in stable condition as police pursued the attacker who was caught in a house.

Such attacks are common in informal settlements and police want victims to cooperate with their attackers for their safety.

Last month, a man was stabbed and killed in a similar attack as he fought off the attackers in the slum. He was killed as his four-year-old boy who was on his back watched. Police and witnesses said the man was taking the boy to a daycare when the incident happened.

Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has since adopted the boy.