Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti and top security officers condemned the attack that took place as about 100 worshippers gathered for Sunday prayers.
According to witnesses, the attacker had gone to the God’s House of Miracles International Church pretending to be a worshipper before he lobbed a grenade at other worshippers.
The incident occurred at around 8.50am as the first service was coming to an end. Those wounded suffered multiple injures and doctors said five of them were serious. They were admitted at Guru Nanak Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital.
Armed with a pistol
Survivors said the attacker, who was also armed with a pistol hurled the grenade when part of the congregation had moved to the front side near the pulpit of the church for prayers.
What shocked some of them was that when they chased him out of the church as he escaped, he pulled out a pistol, forcing them to hold back.
Witnesses said the male attacker first went to the church near Ngara Girls School and a few kilometres from the city centre at about 7.00am, possibly to plan his mission.
According to a singer, Abel Andanyi, the man went to the church when they were preparing for the arrival of other worshippers and pretended to be part of the congregation. "I usually arrive early to prepare the public address system and music before the worshippers and pastors arrive. I saw him because he was new to me," said Andanyi.
He added that the stranger went out and came back minutes later as the other worshippers congregated and took a seat that was far back from the pulpit but amongst others.
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He then sat and waited as the leading pastor had called her worshippers to the pulpit for prayers and hurled one grenade at them. "The worshippers were in deep prayers when he stood up and hurled it [grenade] to the front side of the church. The explosive hit the back one of the worshippers before landing a metre away and exploding," said Andanyi.
A crater marked the area where the Chinese-made grenade exploded.
Bloodstains were everywhere in the church which has a capacity of 500 worshippers, an indication, say police, that those injured tried to run out after it went off.
According to a worshipper, Mr Barnabas Ndutu, his colleagues who tried to arrest the man were scared after he brandished a pistol before escaping. "They had to let him go on foot that way because he pointed a gun at them. By then the injured were also running out," he said.
"We saw a man running out after the blast and when we chased him he pointed a pistol at us, so we ran back," a worshipper Mr Kennedy Wasilwa told Al Jazeera TV.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said it was too early to know the motive of the attacker and or who were behind the incident, adding that police were pursing the issue.
He then went to console victims at Kenyatta National Hospital where he wished them a quick recovery.
"Whatever the reason for the attack, such acts must be condemned in the strongest words possible. What has happened is a challenge to the Government and we must now tighten our security across the country," said Kalonzo.
War on terror
CID director Ndegwa Muhoro, GSU commandant William Saiya, head of anti-terrorism Boniface Mwaniki and CIU’s Abubakar Maalim also visited the scene.
Military personnel also visited the scene and spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said fighting terror in the country requires that Somalia be stabilised.
He said Kenya is committed to achieving this through its involvement in the Africa Mission force fighting Al Shabaab in the war torn Horn of Africa country.
"Chairs are thrown about and there is blood on the floor," said Daniel Mutinda, a Kenya Red Cross official at the church.
Nairobi Area deputy police boss Moses Ombati said they had confirmed it was a grenade attack, but were yet to know the motive and who was behind it. "This is an attack in which a grenade was hurled at the worshippers and our officers are on the ground hunting the attacker who witnesses say they can recognise," said Ombati.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua urged police to protect Kenyans from such attacks even as she condemned the incident. "Our internal security agencies must wake up and protect Kenyans from further loss of lives and injuries condolences /sympathies to affected," she said in a post on her twitter page.
Police have in the past weeks been asking churches and other social places to enhance security and screen visitors as part of efforts to thwart terrorist attacks.
Saitoti said security agencies are "alive" on terrorism and urged for continued vigilance from Kenyans at large. "We are alive and strong on terrorism," he said.
The advisory on terror by the State Department issued last week to US citizens through their embassy in Nairobi said the timing of the planned attacks are still unknown, but warned the organisers could be in the last stages of planning.
"The US Embassy informs US citizens residing in or visiting Kenya that the US Embassy in Nairobi has received credible information regarding a possible attack on Nairobi hotels and prominent Kenyan government buildings."
Warning
It was the second time the embassy issued such a warning since Kenyan troops crossed into Somalia.
A series of similar attacks have killed over 24 people and left several others wounded. More police officers were moved to Coast Province in the past weeks to stem fears of more attacks.
Recent such attacks include two simultaneous grenade blasts in Mtwapa town and Mombasa that left two people dead and 30 others seriously injured.
Al Shabaab denied any involvement in the attacks.
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