Kenyan police probe 5 over sale of explosives

Kenya's anti-terrorism police officers are on Monday investigating a Kenya Defence Forces soldier, a former soldier and three civilians suspected to be selling explosives in Nairobi.

The anti-terrorism police officer close to the investigations confirmed the arrest of the soldiers and other suspects, saying the security officers recovered materials used to make explosives in the operation and they have been taken for analysis.

The officer said those arrested wanted to sell the materials to undercover detectives at a Nairobi residential estate.

The suspects were taken away by anti-terror police for grilling to establish the motive of handling the materials. Police said the operation was mounted on Sunday.

Currently, the probe is ongoing to get more suspects who seem to be people who were out to make quick money. Meanwhile, a multi-agency security team has also been dispatched to investigate and establish the source of the explosives and also to arrest other suspects.

The arrests come as Somali militants have intensified attacks in recent months using Improvised Explosive Dervices (IEDs) in the coastal region.

The IED strategically planted along the roads near Kenya-Somalia border are slowing down security operations to flush out militants hiding in the vast Boni forest which is near the Somali border, according to commanders involved in the operation. Endit