Police release driver of vehicle ferrying explosives

A man who was arrested at the weekend transporting explosive material in Bomet has been set free.

The 37-year-old driver was released on police cash bail after it was established that the 1,750 kilogramme of ammonium nitrate and 50 detonators were meant for quarrying and not terrorism as earlier suspected.

According to Bomet county police commander, Naomi Ichami, documents availed to authorities on Monday confirmed that the company the man worked for was legally licensed to handle the explosive materials.

“Documents licensing the company have been availed and after due diligence the driver was released on police cash bail,” Ichami told The Standard.

The man was arrested at a roadblock two Kilometers from Bomet town on Saturday. The lorry was destined for Kericho.

The decision was made as detectives sought to calm fears among locals of a looming terror attack within the county.

“There should be no cause for alarm over the incident, the matter is under control and we do not believe there was an ill intention, ” she said.

Ms Ichami said the driver had a permit for transporting the explosive material. She however said an inquiry into the manner the explosives were being transported and whether they exposed Kenyans to danger had been launched.

“The vehicle is with us until a multi-sectoral team conducting investigations ascertains that there was no ill intent,” she said.

An officer involved in the investigations who did not wished to be quoted because he is not authorised to speak to the press said it was wrong to transport the explosive material without any warning signs.

He also said the material were supposed to be transported under police escort.

He said the explosive material ought to have been transported in a cooled vehicle to avoid exposing it to heat which can trigger explosion.