Explosive device found in army barracks

Anxiety has gripped an army barracks in Gilgil after a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was found hidden in the highly guarded military unit.

The home-made bomb that was in the last stages of assembling was found in Kenyatta Barracks along the Gilgil-Nyahururu road.

The incident caused anxiety in the barracks which is also the Western Command headquarters as military police started investigations.

An impeccable source said a crisis security meeting was immediately called and several junior officers have been questioned.

The move incidentally, came as details emerged that the barracks had been in darkness for the last three days after electricity supply was disconnected due to an uncleared power bill.

The source, who declined to be named, said that the man-made bomb which was in the last stages of construction was found near a toilet.

"No one knows the motive behind the assembling of this man-made bomb but military officers have started investigations," said the source.

Contacted on phone, Nakuru County Commissioner Mohammed Birik said he was yet to receive full information about the incident.

Last month, some suspects tried to gain entry into a military compound in Mombasa and three of them were shot dead.