Police blow up bomb in swoop

Bomb disposal experts Wednesday detonated a bomb at Mlango Kubwa on Juja Road, resulting in a loud bang that was heard kilometres away.

Huge clouds of smoke billowed from the scene and a huge hole was left in the ground.

It is suspected terrorists had buried the bomb at the side of a sewage trench outside two apartments.

Nairobi deputy police commander Moses Ombati said the terrorists were probably waiting for an opportune moment, when there are many people around, to detonate the bomb.

Wednesday, hundreds of onlookers watched as a bomb disposal expert in protective gear carefully examined the device before announcing the countdown to the huge explosion.

As he counted to three, there was a moment of deathly silence before the deafening blast.

Numerous holes were punched into the walls of a nearby café as metal pellets from the explosive device hit it.

Matatu driver Dan Muchai, who parks his vehicle in the area overnight, discovered the device while collecting his vehicle in the morning.

He said he saw stones on the road and as he removed them, he noticed two electric wires protruding from the ground and became suspicious.

“A group of parking boys told me they had seen three people dig a hole and bury an object at around 3am. They told the boys they would come back for it. They even bought cigarettes for the boys,” Mr Muchai said.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the scene and after cordoning off part of Juja Road for nearly two hours, they successfully detonated the bomb.

Mr Ombati called on the public to provide information that would lead to the arrest of terrorists to avert loss of lives and property.

“We continue to appeal to people to report any suspicious characters because that is the only way we can defeat terrorism,” he appealed.

The country’s security system has come under scrutiny following growing insecurity, especially in Nairobi and Mombasa.