An otherwise peaceful afternoon at Nduma village, Kikuyu, was tense following a discovery made by a local farmer of what the police later confirmed to be a highly sensitive mortar bomb buried in his field.
The Friday, October 24 surprise discovery sent the neighborhood into waves of fear as residents thronged the farm to see the old explosive, which dates back to Kenya’s colonial era.
The Bomb Disposal officers were promptly sent to the scene by Kikuyu Sub-County Police Commander Joseph Ndege to cordon off the area and assess the device, which was identified as an 80 mm artillery bomb, commonly known as an 80 mic mic.
“The area has been sealed off to guarantee everyone’s safety as the bomb squad deals with the situation,” Ndege informed the press.
He stated the experts ruled out detonating the device on site to avoid destroying nearby houses and farmland. “The bomb may have a destructive radius of more than 50 meters. It’s better to relocate it to an enclosed area, perhaps in Kanyoyo, where it will be destroyed in a safe manner,” he elaborated.
The apparatus, the police said, is the equivalent of the British 3-inch/81 mm mortar a World War II type of explosive device subsequently used by British colonial forces when they were conducting their campaigns in Kenya, including the Mau Mau uprising.
Experts say such old mortar bombs can remain live for several decades and, if handled, pose grave risk.
Commander Ndege appealed to citizens across the country to remain vigilant and report to the police immediately if they find any suspicious metallic items.
“Never touch or try to move out old military material. Always report to the authorities so that trained professionals can handle them safely,” he warned.
Although investigations are still under way, the police have promised the villagers of Nduma that the explosive would be safely detonated outside the area, bringing peace after a terror-filled night of anxiety.