Grenade attack not the first in Nairobi

Nairobi has had a fair share of grenade explosions in public forums contrary to the government statement referring to Sunday’s explosion as the first ever.

In late September 2009, revellers at Simmers restaurant along Kenyatta Avenue stumbled on a grenade under seats and called detectives.

The Russian-made explosive was similar to the ones used by the General Service Unit and military in the country.

On June 11, 2007 two people including a man suspected to have been carrying the explosive died outside City Gate restaurant next to Hotel Ambassadeur during the 8am incident.

The man is said to have tried to board a bus to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Police investigations into the incident in which 30 people were injured have never been made public.

In another grenade attack in September 2006, gunmen stormed a bar in Kariobangi South and lobbed explosives at revellers, killing five people including a female bar attendant and two taxi drivers.

In the same month, eight police officers manning a roadblock on Waiyaki Way next to the Westlands DC’s office were injured when Somali-looking men lobbed two grenades at them and rescued a man who had been stopped.

Initial investigations revealed that the motorist, in a BMW car, was flagged down by police for a routine check and was arrested on being found with grenades and firearms.

However, his accomplices drove back on the opposite side of the road, lobbed grenades and shot at the police officers before rescuing the arrested man, identified as Ali Jama Ali.

On May 12, 2006, masked gunmen stormed the Nairobi Pentecostal Church -run Hope FM radio studios on Valley Road and lobbed grenades and burnt up the offices. Two people were killed.