This morning at about 08:15 hrs, a small explosion occurred outside the City Gate Restaurant situated along Moi Avenue outside the city centre. One person was killed and over 30 others were injured. Doctors have confirmed that none of the injuries is life threatening.

Presently, police investigators are pursuing promising leads to ascertain the identity of the perpetrators and possible motives(s) that led to this incident. To begin with, a post mortem is conducted to assist in investigations over the precise cause of death and samples will be sent for further investigations both in local and foreign laboratories.

Additionally, explosives experts and other forensics detectives are going on with investigations. So far, debris from the scene is being examined for traces of explosives. Police are recording statements from persons who were at the scene.

Initial investigations show that the source of the explosion was extremely small. At the scene, only glass windows within a two metre radius were shattered, and injuries sustained are relatively minor. A public service commuter bus which was at the scene had its windscreen shattered and has been driven off to the police yard for further investigations. No traces of combustion or high explosives were detected at the scene.

We understand and appreciate the need to solve such cases expeditiously to allay public concerns that quite often are fanned by rumours or distorted information. It is, however, prudent to be realistic and recognise that all investigations take time. As I told you in my two other press briefings earlier today, we shall periodically provide briefings and updates without jeopardising the conduct of investigations.

I wish to thank all the emergency services for their prompt action, and particularly thank Kenyatta National Hospital, St. John’s Ambulance and others. In a nutshell, our disaster management procedures worked well. Most importantly we are appealing to any person with any information on this incident to contact the police as soon as possible.


Major General Hussein Ali
Commissioner
Kenya Police
June 11, 2007