Police detonate explosive device found in church amid panic

Kenya's bomb experts on Sunday successful detonated a suspected explosive device which was discovered inside the church in Kutus, Kirinyagga county in central Kenya.

County Police Commander Rono Bumei confirmed that the device was an explosive after bomb experts established its nature, noting that security officers moved swiftly to discharge it.

"The security experts moved in after fear had gripped worshippers and successfully detonated the device," Bumei said, adding that investigations are underway to establish the motive behind it.

The worshippers stormed out of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church as the news of the bomb was relayed to them. Some worshippers saw the explosive device as they were giving their offerings and thought it was a toy.

The police said one of the worshippers raised the alarm after noticing a device under the pews where the children were seated. The device was seen blinking under the pews where children were seated.

The priest who was presiding over the mass immediately asked members of the congregation to vacate the facility and alerted security officers who rushed to the scene. No injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, some 15 commuters were injured on Sunday evening after an unknown explosion went off in a bus they were traveling at a residential estate in Nairobi.

Witnesses said some of the passengers were burnt and hit by flying objects after the blast inside a Forwarders Bus Company that was en route Kayole.

The injured were rushed to hospital with multiple injuries. Witnesses said they saw sparks of fire from where the minibus (matatu)'s battery is before a fire engulfed there with a loud blast.

Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome said they are yet to know what caused the explosion that has caused fear among the passengers in Nairobi.

The two incidents come barely a week after the police cautioned Kenyans to be alert during this festive season as they released details of 11 terrorists planning to carry out attacks in the country.

The security officers also released names and pictures of 11 terror suspects they believe are planning attacks in the country during the festival season.

Some of the suspects have been in the security radar for year as most wanted terrorists and criminals in Kenya.

"The public is urged to provide information regarding their whereabouts but are warned that they are armed and dangerous," the police said in a security report received on Friday.

The police said some of the 11 suspects have been trained on terrorism by Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia and are at large and planning terrorism at undisclosed places in Kenya. Endit