Police in Migori County on Tuesday, December 16, discovered suspected live explosives beneath the River Kuja Bridge, sending shockwaves through the local community and triggering an immediate security response.
According to reports, the discovery of the explosives under the critical transport link sparked fear and panic among residents, particularly as the area had been preparing for a high-profile visit by President William Ruto.
Security teams swiftly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the bridge to prevent civilian access while bomb disposal experts were deployed to assess and neutralize the threat.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive security operation to investigate how the explosives came to be placed at the strategic location and to determine whether any further threats exist in the vicinity.
“We are not happy with this discovery because we were expecting President Ruto to visit this area tomorrow, and he was supposed to use this bridge,” a resident stated.
Another resident highlighted broader security challenges facing the area, noting that the bridge location has become a hotspot for criminal activity.
“It’s a small bridge. We are asking the government to also increase security. Because at night, you can’t pass by here at 2 o’clock. At 2 o’clock, you will be robbed of your bike. At 2 o’clock, you will be robbed of your money,” the resident said.
Confirming the incident, police officials detailed the coordinated effort to secure the area.
“We called the bomb disposal team and the ATPU team from Migori County. When they arrived, they saw it. They discovered the explosives and after assessing the area, they used safe methods to remove them from under the bridge,” a police spokesperson explained. “I can confirm that no one was injured.”
In a not-so-different incident in October, police and bomb squad specialists responded to another explosive discovery in Nduma village, Kikuyu, Kiambu County. Farmers working their land unearthed what was identified as an 80mm artillery bomb from the colonial period.
Kikuyu Sub-County Police Commander Joseph Ndege described the device as extremely dangerous, noting that detonating it locally could destroy within a 50-meter radius.
The explosive was safely removed and transported to a secure facility for controlled disposal, with authorities recommending detonation at a safer location away from populated areas.
That incident prompted officials to urge the public to report any suspicious metallic objects or buried materials immediately to prevent potential disasters.
