Police in Kitale are on high alert after 14 explosives were found dumped in river Sabwani on Sunday morning.
The explosives were discovered by a group of sand harvesters who then alerted the area chief about the suspicious old metals.
The area Chief Francis Morogo said that they suspected the explosives were dumped by scrap metal dealers on suspicion that they were being followed by police as the business has been declared illegal by the government.
“Experts from Kitale police station arrived at the scene and confirmed that they were bombs. I think they were thrown by scrap metal dealers due to the presence of other metals like rails and car parts,” said Morogo.
He added that he received the information late when other residents had already disappeared with some of the explosives thinking they were mere scrap metals that could be sold.
“I fear that those explosives might explode any time if tempered with. We are asking those who took metals from the scene to return them for the sake of their safety and that of the community as a whole,” the Karara chief posed.
Confirming the incident, Kitale OCPD James Mitugo said that they were informed about the bombs by villagers who were harvesting sand at the river.
He hinted that only two of the bombs were active and soon the bomb experts will detonate them.
He refuted claims that the discovery of the explosives is linked to plans to cause insecurity in the region during the general elections saying that the bombs are old and were left by people who intended to sell them as scrap metals.
He urged area residents to desist from making baseless claims which he said could create panic as elections approach.
“There is no need to worry as your security during this period is assured. Let us practice community policing by providing information to security officers on any activity that might cause insecurity in the country," Mitugo said.
The Kitale OCPD said that they have launched investigations to ascertain the origin of the bombs.
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