‘Colonial’ bomb found in Kirinyaga detonated

A bomb found in a cow shed at Gathuthuma village in Kirinyaga County was Friday denoted at Mount Kenya, in the presence of onlookers.

The bomb is said to have been found farmer was doing a general cleaning of the shed when he discovered unknown metallic substance he later called the police where they discovered it was a bomb.

It took the police half an hour to retrieve the explosive which was stuck in mud with the residents receiving a few tips on how to handle explosives.

Bomb experts took the 300mm explosive, which weighed 5kg, to Mount Kenya forest, seven kilometres away from homesteads, where it was detonated.

The bomb is said to have been used during the colonial regime to fight Mau Mau fighters in Mount Kenya forest.

Kirinyaga Deputy Police Commander Charles Ontita asked the residents to report to the police when they encounter any metallic substances in the area, believed to have been a battle zone during the Colonial era.

He warned scrap metal dealers to be wary of any suspicious-looking metals which may be weapons.

Report by James Gitonga