Man seized in probe on hotel blast

Police in Mombasa have arrested a man believed to be a key link in the blast at a hotel in Nyali last weekend.

Sources confirmed that the man was arrested in Utange, Kisauni, on Saturday and locked up at Bamburi Police Station. He will be charged today.

Mombasa County police commander Robert Kitur confirmed the arrest yesterday, but refused to divulge further information until the investigations are completed.

“We have arrested him, but we are still carrying our investigations. We will have more details for the press tomorrow (Monday),” he said.

But the Nation learnt that the man hails from Lamu County and is said to be the one who dropped a bag with explosives at the beach hotel.

According to a beach operator, the suspect swam for a few minutes and later bought a bracelet from a vendor.

“I saw him come out of the water, put on his shirt and go to buy a bracelet from the Maasai. He never returned to pick his bag,” said.

The bag contained an improvised explosive device, which exploded  but no one was injured. At least three people lost their lives and 24 others were injured when another device exploded at a fuel station near the Chania Travellers bus booking office in Mwembe Tayari on that Saturday night.

The blast ripped apart two buses- Chania Poa and Charter Links, both of which were preparing for the early morning journey.