None injured in Nairobi CBD blast

An explosion rocked Nairobi CBD on Saturday when an unattended parcel exploded near and Mpesa shop on Accra Road.

The parcel, which was left on the junction of River Road and Accra Road, exploded at about 11:30am. A fire broke out after the explosion, but members of the public managed to put it off.

Confirming the incident, Nairobi County Commander Japheth Koome said that nobody was injured in the blast and no property was destroyed.

Though bomb experts are conducting investigations into the cause of the blast, Koome was able to ascertain that the parcel was not a bomb.

Parts of the 15kg parcel have been forwarded to the government chemist for tests, and police are looking for the owner of the package.

The police boss urged members of the public to be wary of unattended packages, and to inform the police of any suspicious items that they come across. He warned that such bags could be used by criminals to transport explosives and other illegal substances.

Further, the Commander asked Kenyans to cooperate with security agents as this would improve the state of security on the county.

“Kenyans should be willing to be screened at public places such as supermarkets, malls and even when boarding public transport. We all play a role in securing the nation,” said the police boss.

He called on public transport operators to tighten security by searching passengers and inspecting luggage.

Koome assured the public that security is a top concern for the law enforcement community, and the government is sparing no efforts in ensuring that its citizens are safe.

Over the past few years Kenya has been rocked by numerous terror attacks, with the most memorable being the attacks on Westgate Mall and Garissa University.

In April this year, 150 people were killed in an Al Shabaab attack on Garisaa University College. Militants, who identified themselves as members of the violent islamist sect, claimed that they were attacking the school to retaliate for Kenya’s role in the AMISOM operation in Somalia.

On 21 September 2013, unidentified gunmen attacked Westgate Mall in Nariobi’s upscale Westlands area. In a siege that lasted four days, the assailants killed 67 people and injured many others.

The incident attracted international attention as it was the first major terror attack since the 2002 Kikambala blast, and the 1997 bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi.

The Westgate Mall has since been repaired and reopened.