LEADS

Three and not two grenades exploded at Uhuru Park triggering the question whose missiles they were, particularly because they resemble those routinely used by Kenya’s security forces.

The national outrage was palpable, calls for unbridled investigations resonated across the country as political and religious leaders, including Christians and Muslims, called for calm and sobriety but condemned the mayhem.

President Kibaki convened a top-level Government security meeting on the morning after, where it emerged the plotters of the atrocities used two models of stun and hand grenades - GL36 used mostly in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Sources revealed Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere told the meeting his sleuths were concentrating their exploration on four areas, the first and second being within the ranks of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ camps, the third being possibility it was the work of the so-called ‘Yes-No-Yes’ group, which is a syndicate of politicians and influential personalities who are undecided on taking one or other position and for strategic reasons and prefer to conveniently project themselves as friendly to both the ‘Greens’ and the ‘Reds’.

The fourth group the security teams are looking into for possible leads is categorised as ‘extremists’ and include some religious extremists and a vicious underground ring made up of members of a proscribed cultic and extortionist sect.

Though not on Iteere’s list was a public claim it could have been the work of a conservative, insecure and renegade ring within the national security apparatus fearful of the consequences of a new constitution for its unit.

The desolation and helplessness of the country was discernible from the ashen face of a motorist struck and killed by the shrapnel as he sat in his car at Uhuru Park. It was only yesterday morning that he was found slumped dead on his seat, pushing the death toll up to six. But in total, seven people had been confirmed dead by Monday evening, after one more person succumbed to injuries at Kenyatta National Hospital.

President Kibaki captured the anger of the nation when he called Sunday grenade attack a heinous crime committed against the people of Kenya.

At Kenyatta National Hospital the horrendous story of human agony and misery dumbfounded all, including medical staff unused to handling victims of terror devices sprayed with flying shrapnel, which literally made some of the 102 patients hospitalised look like they were showered with shoemakers’ nails.

Write to president

Government called for calm as the magnitude of the atrocity committed on Sunday continued to shock Kenyans.

But the grotesque nature of the crime targeting a group opposed to the Proposed Constitution forced the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to write to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga calling for suspension of campaigning for or against the draft until the official campaign period starts.

The chairman of the commission mandated by law to tackle hate speech and incitement, Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia, summoned Higher Education Minister William Ruto, who is leading the ‘No’ camp, as well as Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage and MPs Fred Kapondi, Dr Julius Kones, Mohammed Sheikh Dor and Joshua Kuttuny. They will have to defend themselves against claims they have breached the law in their past speeches.

Though unrelated to the summons, Ruto was at the troubled Uhuru Park prayer meeting on Sunday and called the blast the work of people hell-bent on forcing the Proposed Constitution upon Kenyans. But yesterday Raila absolved the Government of blame as Kibaki ordered speedy and wholesome investigations.

A large team of investigators was put together with instructions to unmask those behind the grenade attacks. The President led condemnation saying the attacks were "a crime against the people of Kenya".

He vowed retrogressive forces that do not respect democracy and the rights of others to hold different views would be shamed. He met security chiefs at State House but later spoke bitterly at Kenya High School’s centenary celebration.

He promised that the Government would get to the bottom of the crime and said all security agencies have launched investigations. Kibaki said the crime was an act of intolerance that has no place in the New Kenya that citizens seek to build.

Raila, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, as well as Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti and Chief of General Staff Gen Jeremiah Kianga were at the State House meeting.

Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, National Security Intelligence chief Maj Gen Michael Gichangi and Iteere were present.

Reject violence

After the meeting, Raila led the ministers to Uhuru Park, the site of the blasts. They visited the two spots where the devices, which police said were grenades exploded.

Kibaki later visited the more than 20 victims still admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital. Some 91 people were treated and discharged..

US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger also condemned the attacks and said Kenyans should reject violence and hate speech. He reminded Kenyans of what US Vice President Joe Biden said when he visited last week.

Islamic religious organisations - Supkem and Muslim Rights Forum - also condemned the attacks and called on Government to move fast in apprehending the perpetrators. "We also will not accept inferences being made out there that this was the work of the Muslim community in Kenya and this is also hate speech and those going around blaming the Muslim community without any shred of evidence must be subject to the hate speech legislation as they are doing nothing but inflaming the flames and passions of hatred," said Al Amin Kimathi, who heads Muslim Human Rights Forum.

Iteere said: "We are according this issue the maximum attention it deserves and will not leave any stone unturned."

The crack probe team is headed by the head of investigations at CID headquarters Mr Gideon Kimilu, assisted by head of anti-terror unit Nicholas Kamwende. Its members are drawn from NSIS, GSU and Directorate of Military Intelligence.

Detectives who briefed The Standard on the investigations said they were piecing together clues on what happened and possible motives for the attacks.

They said the number of explosions were three.

Detectives who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were first trying to establish whether the grenades were the type used by Kenyan security forces.

Combed scene

The officers spent the better part of the day recording statements from victims and witnesses. They also combed the scene before concluding there were three blasts.

"The motive was to derail the constitutional-making process and that is why we are looking into all those angles," one of the officers told The Standard.

The blasts occurred as a crowd queued to give tithe that one of the pastors who organised the rally had asked for shortly before 7pm. One of the explosives went off about 50 meters away from the main dais and injured 20 people.

The second one was more lethal and followed about seven minutes later. At the scene, shoes were still strewn all over and bloodstains marks were visible.

"The second one exploded as one of the pastors asked the congregation to ignore the first one thinking it was an electrical fault," said DS Njoroge who was providing sound system for the service.

Njoroge recalled the pastor had asked the congregation to donate Sh1,000 each to enable them continue conducting ‘No’ rallies.