The robbers who staged a broad daylight robbery at the Equity Bank branch along Ang’awa Avenue in Kisumu City may still be at large.

This comes after police failed to nab them, even after the fierce gun battle that ensued between the thugs and the cops that lasted for over an hour.

The operation was called off in the afternoon after police said it was delicate as innocent clients could easily have been caught in the crossfire.

According to witness reports, the thugs stormed into the bank at around 11 am and lobbed a tear gas canister on the floor, forcing out the staff and other clients.

Nyanza regional police boss Karanja Muiruri said during the standoff, the robbers also lobbed teargas at the police officers.

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The tear gas smoke apparently reduced visibility for the police officers to levels they could no longer engage the thugs in a fair shootout.

Police say the canisters are not consistent with any that police normally use.

Investigations are still ongoing, with police questioning bank staff and clients who were in the banking hall during that incident.

Police suspect the criminals must have switched clothes and walked out of the banking hall masked among the other clients in the frenzy as evacuation exercise was taking place.

While addressing the public, the Nyanza Regional Commissioner Magu Mutindika revealed the police are in possession of a shirt they suspect belongs to one of the criminals.

“We have in our possession a man’s shirt. We suspect that the robbers had a change of clothes and left the banking hall during the evacuation of distressed clients,” Mutindika said.

Police are hoping to tie the shirt to its owner, who they believe is among the individuals who were rounded up and taken to the police station for further questioning. 

“We’re hoping to identify the owner of the shirt, who would, in turn, lead us to his other three accomplices. We wouldn’t want to implicate innocent people,” he added.

Equity Bank issued a statement about the attempted robbery and revealed that no money was lost during the incident and all their staff were safe.

“We had an incident where armed robbers gained access into the banking hall of our Kisumu Angawa Branch. Security agents led by local authorities are currently on the scene. All staff are safe and no cash was lost,” the statement read.

"We had an incident where armed robbers gained access into the banking hall of our Kisumu Angawa Branch. Security agents led by local authorities are currently on the scene. All staff are safe and no cash was lost," the statement read.