Bomb scare along Moi Avenue in Nairobi CBD causes tension

By Standard Digital Reporter

Nairobi, Kenya: Kenyans on social media were Wednesday abuzz with reports of an emergency evacuation at Development House, along Moi Avenue in Nairobi’s CBD.

This followed reports that there was an abandoned bag suspected to have an explosive.

"There is an alleged bomb scare at Nakumatt. Everybody is advised to avoid Moi Avenue," read one tweet.

"Gunshots, confusion at Nakumatt Moi Avenue, Nairobi, heavy GSU presence. Suspected van with Explosives impounded," read another.

What was especially arousing about these reports is that the building houses Nakumatt Moi Avenue branch. The news went viral and before long, news blogs had picked up the reports and posted stories about a "bomb scare".

The Standard Digital team trailed a confirmation of an evacuation from reporters on the ground. The alleged "bomb" was actually a "suspicious" bag that was left in the arcade in front of Nakumatt's main entrance where some ATMs are located. Flowers for sale are usually displayed at that area. A reporter on the ground confirmed that "bomb experts" had arrived at the scene.

Moments later, social media again lit up with news of an explosion causing a new wave of panic.

"Blast at Nakumatt Moi Avenue? @dagzkevo: Buildings being evacuated, sirens everywhere. So much tension in the CBD," Tweeted user JD.

Security sources however confirmed that the explosion was from a detonation exercise.

A user on Facebook wrote, "Bomb experts blown up suspicious luggage and found a Bible, a German dictionary, pen and key."

"I hope that was a false alarm. I had never run like that," wrote @VenBLVCK.

A sizable crowd gathered around the scene to have a glimpse of the alleged abandoned bomb, a negative trait that has developed among many city residents.

One Twitter user, Ciiku expressed her annoyance at the habit of Kenyans milling around crime scenes.

"Cops have closed off that building where Nakumatt Moi Avenue is housed and Kenyans and their nosiness have surrounded the place. Sijui hata!"

Some Kenyans had apparently already taken advantage of the situation to do their dirty deeds, according to Bug Hunter on Twitter.

"Kama uko kwa traffic karibu na Nakumatt Moi Avenue...beware of phone snatchers."

Kenya has experienced a string of blasts in different parts of the country, with the latest in Nairobi – along the busy Thika Superhighway and in Mombasa on two consecutive days both of which were twin explosions.

Another blast claimed four lives among them two police officers at Pangani police station, barely a week before these explosions took place.

A security swoop has been ongoing in the country following an explosion at restaurant in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area in which six people died.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have promised to track down the extremists and their agents behind these attacks, even as the security situation seems to worsen.