3 dead after twin blasts hit 2 buses along Nairobi Thika Highway

By Cyrus Ombati

 By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: At least three people were Sunday killed and more than 60 wounded when blasts happened in two buses full of passengers along Thika Road Nairobi.

The blasts were caused by Improvised Explosive Devises that had been planted in the two buses that were carrying passengers from the  CBD.

Police and witnesses said the first blast happened at about 5 pm near Homeland area where the IED went off as the bus raced towards Githurai 45. The explosive caused massive damages and seriously injured those on board the Jeean Sacco.

The second blast happened few minutes apart at the Roysambu underpass killing two passengers who were in the bus. The Mwiki Sacco bus was ferrying 51 passengers from the CBD when the explosion happened.

According to police and witnesses, the incidents were well coordinated.

Police spokeswoman Gatiria Mboroki said the blasts were caused by an IED that seemed to have either been abandoned in the buses or were accompanied.

“We use this occasion to urge matatu operators to always screen their passengers and luggage for their safety. These incidents could have been averted,” said Mboroki.

The impact of the blasts could be seen on the buses that had their window panes completely shattered.

Those wounded were first rushed to Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital, St Marys Hospital, Guru Nanak and Kenyatta National Hospital.

Some of the victims had their legs badly injured and burnt by the blasts. The deputy head of Bomb Disposal Unit Eliud Langat who was at the scenes said the IEDs were planted in the buses.

Nairobi deputy head of police Moses Ombati led the emergency operations with more than 50 ambulances rushing there and transferred more than 20 of the victims to KNH.

A witness Joseph Njogu who was trailing the Githurai bus near Homeland in Roasters area said the blast was loud that it caused a brief dust and smoke.

“There was confusion here soon after it went off. It ripped off the right side of the bus and I saw ten people with multiple wounds,” said Njogu.

At the Roysambu underpass, the bus driver escaped with no injuries but seemed to be in confusion. He could hardly recall what happened.

The two blasts caused a massive traffic jam on the busy highway for hours as police tried to clear the scenes.

Police diverted traffic towards Mwiki, Kasarani and onward to Thika for hours.  Near Homeland, traffic was being diverted at Muthaiga Police Station while some were being diverted at Kenyatta University and Githurai for those who were driving towards the CBD and TRM roundabout.

The situation was bad until 8 pm when police removed the buses from the scene but the backlog of the traffic had been massive.

Tens of police were rushed there to control the crowds and motorists.

The blasts happened a day after another one in Mombasa in which three people died.

At the Reef Hotel no injury was reported but at the Channia Booking Office in Mwembe Tayari area along Kenyatta Avenue three people died.

Police said the Reef explosion may have happened to sway them there while they launched another one at the bus where the three were killed and 28 injured.

At the hotel there were many guests including MCAs, police and intelligence officials from Machakos County who were on a retreat.

Police boss David Kimaiyo said no arrest had been made so far but of those injured 12 were discharged.