The five were allegedly headed to commit a robbery in Buru Buru shopping centre when police who had information on their operation struck at 9am.
Witnesses said police trailed the suspects’ salon car and ordered them to get out but the driver sped off, prompting the officers to open fire.
Nairobi Area police boss Anthony Kibuchi said the suspects were planning to rob a bank in Eastleigh and Buru Buru.
"You can see they were armed, ready for war with police. The gang has been linked to robberies in the city in the past week, " said Mr Kibuchi.
He said intelligence showed the men had six AK 47 rifles; adding two more are still in the wrong hands.
He added they are yet to establish the source of the weapons.
Planned to strike
The incident caused traffic jam along the usually busy road.
Police said the same gang had on Thursday staged a robbery in Eastleigh’s Garissa Lodge Mall, and stole money.
The gang put a spirited fight against police as they escaped in a fierce shoot-out that left three people injured. Police said the gang planned to strike at a bank in the mall but their plan was stopped.
Officers from Flying Squad had been pursuing the suspects until yesterday when they were traced from Umoja, Kayole and Donholm.
Kibuchi said police were looking for the other two rifles.
He added they are yet to recover another one that was seized from a police officer, who was murdered on Luthuli Avenue, Nairobi, two weeks ago.
"They usually use such weapons to stage major robberies but we have to get them before they do it," he said.
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