Kenya: Explosive device found at PMs office

  1. Posted on Thursday 22 September 2011 - 10:29
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    Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    A massive security operation was launched on Tuesday after what was suspected to be an explosive ordinance was found outside the Kenyan Prime Minister's office. Security sources pointed an accusing finger at the Somali-based al-Shabaab terror group.
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    A police officer at the scene of the incident told AfricaNews that the device, which is suspected to be a hand grenade, was capable of killing many people and injuring scores of others at the ever busy office.

    Prime Minister Raila Odinga was in his office when the device was found. He was holding a meeting with the Kenyan Chief Justice at the time.

    However, they were evacuated to an unknown destination, as the police cordoned off the area and begun searching the whole building with the help of sniffer dogs.

    A senior Police Spokesman Charles Owino said that the grenade was discovered by a plumber who was conducting routine repairs. The grenade did not have a safety pin.


    He added that the plumber informed the police who alerted the Bomb Disposal Experts who took away the device for analysis. He was accompanied by officers drawn from Rapid Response Unit and bomb experts.

    The Prime Minister's office is always a buzz of activities, and houses several ministries and other sensitive government departments. Police are yet to release more information on the case.

    Kenya has been on security alert due to the ever present threat from the al-Shabaab terror group, which has links to the Al-Qaeda terror network.

    A fortnight ago, suspected members of the group attacked a high-end holiday resort in Lamu District's Kiwayu village at the Kenyan coast, and killed a British tourist , David Tebbutt, and kidnapped his wife, Judith. She is yet to be found, although one man has been charged for the crime.

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