30 injured in Nairobi's Moi Avenue blast
Thick smoke engulfs Mt Kenya University along Moi Avenue Street after an explosion rocked a city stall. Photo/NATION
By EMMANUEL TOILI
Posted Monday, May 28 2012 at 13:15
Posted Monday, May 28 2012 at 13:15
At least 30 people have been injured in a 1:10pm explosion that rocked Assanands House next to Mt Kenya University Campus along Nairobi's Moi Avenue street. (Watch the live stream onhttp://www.nation.co.ke/live )
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has reported receiving 27 casualties.
Firemen at the scene have discovered a two feet crater in the building, which is currently being investigated.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has said they have requested Kenya Power to investigate the possibility of an electrical fault within the building.
In an interview with NTV, Mr Iteere said the police have not found any evidence relating to a grenade attack.
However, sources at Kenya Power said the blast could not have occurred as a result of an electrical fault since all gadgets at the scene were functional.
He said several roads have been closed including Moi Avuenue, River road and Tubman streets, which will be reopened in the evening.
However, Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojode who arrived at the scene later said "police are investigating the possibilities of a grenade attack."
According to an eye witness, there was a huge blast as debris flew in different directions injuring people in the environs.
The powerful explosion tore the building roof and shattered windows. Occupants of surrounding buildings were evacuated.
The explosion has disrupted activities along the street as Military Police cordon off the area and forcefully evacuating curious onlookers.
Scores injured in Nairobi explosionWritten By:Margaret Kalekye, Posted: Mon, May 28, 2012 | ||
28 people have been injured in an explosion that rocked an exhibition store adjacent to Mt Kenya University Towers along the busy Moi Avenue.
The building known as Assanands house caught fire immediately the blast went off at 1.15pm ripping off the roof.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said the blast was probably caused by an electrical fault, playing down fears of a grenade attack.
But Kenya Power disputed said the blast could not have occurred as a result of an electrical fault. KPLC Communications Manager Migwi Theuri said the cut out was intact and the building doesn't have a grounded transformer.
Iteere said the police have not found any evidence relating to a grenade attack.
But some eyewitnesses who were near the building say they saw two men of Somali origin throw something inside the building that exploded immediately after.
They further claimed that members of the public managed to get hold of one of the men whom they roughed up before police arrived and arrested him.
His accomplice managed to flee. Iteere who was at the scene of the blast also refuted claims that the victims had shrapnel injuries.
Another eye witness said there was a huge blast and debris flew in different directions. A journalist who managed to go inside the building said on his twitter account that the explosion was massive since it had left a crater.
Business in the Central Business District came to a standstill with several shops being closed for fear of more attacks and looting.
Fire fighters were called to put out the fire as armed security officers including GSU, APs, regular police and Kenya Army were called in to help with rescue operations.
The officers had a hard time trying to control the milling crowd but they later managed to cordon off the area. Motorists have been advised to keep off the area and use alternative routes.
Meanwhile, Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode has warned Kenyans against speculating on the cause of the blast.
Ojode who was speaking to journalists at the blast scene assured that Kenya was safe adding that investigations were going on.
He said the government will speed up the installation of CCTV's in the city to enhance security along the streets.
Several other top government officials visited the scene including Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Raila said the government will use all resources available to enhance security in the country.
Last week the PM told Parliament that China has advanced a Sh 8.3 billion grant to Kenya to install CCTV surveillance cameras in Nairobi and other major towns in a bid to fight terrorism and other forms of crime.
"We are going to start the installation almost immediately," Prime Minister Raila Odinga told Kenya's parliament on Wednesday. "And this is going to spread to other cities, Mombasa is next, then Kisumu and other cities."
There has been a string of attacks in Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa blamed on Somali militants and their sympathisers since Kenya sent troops into Somalia last October.
More to follow................
The aftermath of the blast on Moi Avenue/MUTHONI NJUKI
Visiting the scene, Iteere played down fears it had been a bomb attack by Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabaab insurgents.
“We have been to scene of the incident and at this time we can be able to say that it was not a grenade or bomb blast. Form the preliminary investigations we do think it was electrical fault,” he said of the massive blast which took place at around 1.15pm local time.
People on the streets and in buildings around the Central Business District all heard the massive blast, believing it was caused by a bomb or other explosive device.
Most were not convinced by the explanation by the police chief who added: “We have also been to the hospital and seen the victim and what we are getting is that the injuries were some sort of burns.”
But Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode said it was too early to ascertain the cause of the blast.
“Lets us be patient and wait for the investigations report. It will be premature for me to say whether the blast was caused by an electrical fault or an explosive or a terrorist attack,” he told reporters at the scene of the blast.
People in adjacent shops said they saw two men hurl something at the building before they were pursued by police officers on patrol.
Assonants House was home to several clothing stalls and video shops.
People who were near the scene of the blast recounted what they saw and heard prior and after the blast.
“I arrived when the fire was still on. It was so loud so I tried to move away because with the crowd you never know what might happen next,” one observer said.
“I just heard people talking so I can to see for myself,” another stated.
“I reached somewhere here around Imenti House and at first I thought it was a tyre burst or something but then I thought that was a bigger explosion and that is when I heard people start to say that it was a bomb blast.”
“There was a big bang before the fire started and I ran away for dear life.”
The security situation in the Central Business District was immediately tightened following the blast.
A spot check by Capital FM News in various buildings within the town revealed that guards were being more thorough in their checks.
They said they would remain vigilant to any suspicious activities to prevent any attack by terrorists.
Kenya has been hit by a wave of attacks the police have repeatedly blamed on Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab insurgents.
At least 20 people were rushed to hospital following the blast.
(Simon Ndonga contributed to this report).
|
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment