Injured police boss undergoes surgery
Muthangari OCS Lipa Krop underwent surgery to remove six bullets lodged in his body following Monday’s dramatic shootout with suspected robbers in Lavington.
Mr Krop was shot four times on his left arm and twice in the stomach by a suspect who had taken refuge in a house in Mzima Springs.
Nairobi County Police Commandant Benson Kibui on Tuesday confirmed the OCS is in a stable condition at Nairobi hospital. He refuted claims that the officer had been admitted in ICU.
“He was rushed to Nairobi Hospital where he underwent an operation to remove the six bullets lodged in the arm and stomach but he is in stable condition,” Mr Kibui said.
The suspected robber who shot Mr Krop was part of a five-man gang that intended to rob a petrol station in Lavington.
He had sought refuge in a residential house to evade police officers who were hot on his trail.
When police entered the house to flush him out, he grabbed the OCS’s left arm which was holding a gun and shot the arm four times in an attempt to snatch the firearm.
“The OCS did not let go of the gun and so the suspect shot him in the stomach. He wanted to kill him” Mr Kibui said.
Another officer from the elite Recce Squad of the General Service Unit who shot on the right shoulder during the fierce shooting was treated and discharged from hospital on Monday.
Three pistols with 22 bullets were recovered from the robbers.
Three gang members are said to have escaped.
Mr Kibui said a member of the gang had been arrested and was assisting police in investigation.
“I can assure members of the public that we will arrest the three gang members who escaped,” Mr Kibui said.