Grenade at PM office a ‘harmless shell’
The device that was found at Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office on Tuesday was not a grenade after all. (Read: Raila rushed to safety in Nairobi grenade scare)
It was a shell that cannot cause death or injuries if exploded, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said on Wednesday.
“We want to know who placed it there and with what motive. All officers who have been deployed here for the last month will be investigated. It’s some kind of mischief. Why place a dummy? This is what we want to establish,” said Mr Iteere.
The building on Harambee Avenue is guarded by Administration Police officers drawn from the Security of Government Buildings unit, and is opposite the President’s Harambee House office.
The shell was found in the basement of the building, which is littered with broken plastic and steel pipes, planks of timber and pieces of wood.
“This area is very dusty as you can see. But the shell was quite clean. This indicates it was placed here not long before the matter was reported. May be a few hours, a day before but not more than a week,” Mr Iteere said during a tour of the premises.
The police boss showed the shell to journalists. It had a lever and pin missing, an indication it had been exploded.
For training purposes
He also held another one, which looked similar, but with its lever and pin intact, indicating it was live.
“These types of grenades are used for training purposes only because they are not lethal. It will not disintegrate after exploding. It would only produce a loud bang and a flash of light. They are to be found at the GSU Training School and other police training colleges,” Mr Iteere said.
Another officer claims it was a “stun grenade” — which usually disintegrates on explosion, releasing shrapnel that hit like bullets.
Mr Iteere said that officers in charge of training are required to dispose of all remnants, including such shells.
He said Mr Odinga’s security was not under threat.
“The security of the PM and other VIPs is okay. I am satisfied with what we have put in place,” Mr Iteere said.
He was accompanied by his deputy Francis Okonya, director of police operations Julius Ndegwa and spokesman Eric Kiraithe.
The Nation has established that the Prime Minister has 21 bodyguards from the regular police and the General Service Unit.
The team is led by a chief inspector of police and also provides escort duties.
Mr Odinga was meeting Chief Justice Willy Mutunga when the building was evacuated.
