Pupils shot as rival gangs exchange fire

What you need to know:

  • According to a parent, Benard Kekedu, the children, all students of the Juhudi Academy, were leaving school when they were caught up in the crossfire that occurred at around 3.15pm. They are all aged between 5 and 10 years.
  • Two of the children were shot in their arms while another one was shot in the thigh. The other two were shot in the leg. The injured children were Lorenza Atieno, Billy Otieno, Joshua Otieno, June Jelimo and Owino Obuya.
  • The deceased, Martin Njogu alias Marto was suspected to have been involved in another robbery in which his colleague was shot dead. Police recovered several rounds of 0.22mm calibre bullets.

Five children have been admitted at a hospital in Nairobi with bullet wounds sustained during a crossfire between rival gangs of suspected robbers.

One gangster armed with a pistol was also shot dead during the shoot-out that occurred at The Awendo Road in Dandora Phase Four.

According to a parent, Benard Kekedu, the children, all students of the Juhudi Academy, were leaving school when they were caught up in the crossfire that occurred at around 3.15pm. They are all aged between 5 and 10 years.

“I was called by a neighbour who told me that my child had been injured. When I went there, I found him and three others wailing in pain so I took him to hospital,” he said.

Two of the children were shot in their arms while another one was shot in the thigh. The other two were shot in the leg. The injured children were Lorenza Atieno, Billy Otieno, Joshua Otieno, June Jelimo and Owino Obuya.

Police who arrived at the scene collected several cartridges from the shooting that lasted for over 20 minutes, according to residents.

Police said the clash resulted from a disagreement on how to share booty from a previous robbery.

Detectives had earlier in the morning arrested the slain suspect’s girlfriend to direct them to his hideout in Dandora.

The deceased, Martin Njogu alias Marto was suspected to have been involved in another robbery in which his colleague was shot dead. Police recovered several rounds of 0.22mm calibre bullets.

No one was arrested , but police say they are searching for the armed youth said to have escaped on foot.

The incidence comes just a few days after a 17-year-old Form Three student at Straight Secondary School in Kibera was shot dead during a robbery in the slums on April 28.

Boniface Makau was returning home from tuition in Laini Saba Kibera at 11am when he was shot. The family claims the teenager was shot by an AP officer.