11 KENYANS ON RAID PLAN KILLED

Eleven Kenyans were among 14 robbery suspects gunned down by Tanzanian police on Wednesday evening.

Tanzanian police said they were part of a gang that had planned to raid a branch of Exim Bank in Moshi. The robbery was to take place yesterday morning.

Three other victims were not immediately identified but are also believed to be Kenyans, the Kilimanjaro regional police commander Lucas Ng’hoboko said yesterday. However, the Kenyan police could not comment on the matter saying an official signal had not been received at Vigilance House.

The suspects were identified as Ms Hannah Nyakanyi Kingara from Kiambu, Simon Maina Ndabaki from Kerugoya, Moses Kuria Kamau from Nairobi, David M. N. Mbugua from Mwea, Peter Maina Waweru from Karatina and William Muiruri Kamau from Nairobi.

Others were Philip Irungu Wanjiru, Ludovick Gicheru Kariuki of Thika, John Gikonyo Buku from Murang’a, Zachary Mwangi Kimathiro from Murang’a and Jeremiah W. Macharia.

Their bullet-riddled bodies are at the Mawenzi Hospital mortuary.

Mr Ng’hoboko said most of the suspects had temporary passports which were issued in Nairobi last Monday.

He said the Kenyans were found with three AK-47 rifles, three pistols and over 200 rounds of ammunition, two hand grenades and five bullet-proof vests.

Mr Ng’hoboko said a manhunt for other suspects who escaped had been launched.

Visited bank

He said early this week, police received information that gangsters were planning to raid a bank in Moshi town. Two days ago, people believed to be part of the gang visited the Exim Bank branch to exchange money.

Sources said the bank officials suspected them because of the way they behaved while exchanging their currencies into Tanzanian money.

Mr Ng’hoboko said after getting the necessary information on the planned robbery, police started trailing them and established their hideout on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Shortly after sunset on Wednesday, the police laid a trap where the suspects had rented a house.

Mr Ng’hoboko said when ordered to surrender, they started shooting at the police prompting the officers to gun down 14 of them.

The killing comes only one-and-a-half months after armed gangsters stormed the NMB Bank branch in Mwanga and stole TSh234 million. One Kenyan was gunned down near Moshi shortly after the July 11 raid.



SOURCE: DAILY NATION