Tahmeed driver, four others arrested after explosives found in bus

Detectives from the Anti-Terrorism Unit of the DCI have been allowed to hold three people for 10 days after explosives were discovered in a Tahmeed Meru-bound bus.

This even as two more people, David Tindi Andala and John Kariuki Kung'u, were arrested on Tuesday evening in Meru where the parcel was to be received.

Lawrence Kioko Mutuku, the driver and his conductor, Said Rashida Amour, were both arrested on May 5, 2025, in Kanyonyo along the Kanyonyo-Embu highway.

The third suspect, Brenda Makhulungu Imboyoga, was arrested at Mundutsu village, Kakamega County, where the explosives were sent from.

The application was made by state prosecutors Ken Amwayi and Joyce Gacheru before Magistrate Gideon Kiage at the Kahawa Law Courts.

Amwayi and Gacheru told Magistrate Kiage that the parcel had been marked as a water purifier.

A white carton bearing a milk brand name that carried the explosives was found concealed in the luggage compartment of the passenger bus.

According to an affidavit by Police Constable Henry Bwire, the parcel had 10 water gel explosives, one red explosive cord, which was 10 meters long, two white cables, each terminated with metallic ends, which police believe are detonators.

The parcel was destined for Meru.

While asking for more time to continue with the probe, Bwire told Magistrate Kiage that the three were members of a terrorist organisation.

Police confiscated the suspects' mobile phones to allow forensic examination and ascertain links to terror groups. 

Constable Bwire said that the ATPU needs time to have the DCI forensic laboratory examine and analyse explosives and detonators.

Amwayi and Gacheru told the magistrate that the probe would require Bwire to travel to Kakamega, Meru and Mombasa for investigations.

They said that the three suspects have other associates who are still at large and that they may interfere with investigations.

The case will be mentioned on May 16.