Police in Homa Bay have identified one of the suspected gang members who were shot dead in the Got Kokech area on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased, Eli Onyango Otieno, a resident of Lela village in Nyando subcounty, Kisumu county, was shot alongside an unidentified colleague by police during a pursuit from Homa Bay town.
According to a police report, Otieno’s identification was confirmed through fingerprinting. Homa Bay subcounty DCI Commander Charles Koilenge stated that Otieno was found with a firearm, specifically a Jericho pistol that was reported lost by a Kenya police officer on April 26, 2024, at 0524hrs.
The incident occurred as the suspects were allegedly fleeing from police officers. The chase ended when their car lost control and landed in a ditch along the Homa Bay-Kendu Bay road at Got Kokech.
Eyewitnesses reported an exchange of gunfire between the suspects and police. The police ultimately overpowered the suspects, with one being shot approximately 500 meters from the crash site and the other over a kilometer away.
Resident Joseph Awino recounted hearing several gunshots during the confrontation and mentioned that one of the suspects attempted to hide in River Osiri before being shot.
The police are still working on identifying the second suspect involved in the incident.
“The suspect used his clothes to cover his head as he was hiding in the river bank. He squatted in the river,” Awino said.
Some chequebooks and other bank documents were found in the car which was being used by the suspects.
Money was also found in the car alongside a flat-screen TV set and cash.
Bodies of the deceased are at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
