An unexploded bomb was recovered in Kerwa, Kikuyu Sub-County, Kiambu County, following a report by a local farmer who stumbled upon the device while preparing his land for planting.
The incident occurred on October 23, 2025, at around 11:00 a.m.
According to David Muiruri, a resident of Kerwa Sub-location, he was harrowing his shamba using a tractor when he unearthed a brown metallic object that resembled a bomb.
Recognising the potential danger, Muiruri took a photograph of the object and proceeded directly to Kerwa Police Station to report the matter.
Upon receiving the report, officers led by Officer Commanding Station Chief Inspector Lydia Rutoh rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to prevent public access.
The Sub-County Police Commander was alerted, and a joint team comprising the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer and bomb experts from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations National Forensic Bomb Disposal Unit was immediately dispatched to assess the situation.
Upon arrival, the bomb experts confirmed that the object was an active 80mm high-explosive unexploded ordnance.
The bomb disposal unit safely secured the explosive device and took it into custody for further analysis, management, and safe disposal.
Fortunately, no injuries or damage to property were reported in the incident. The area was declared safe following the removal of the device, and calm was restored.
Authorities noted that the source of the explosive remains unknown. Investigations are underway to establish how the device ended up in the area, with suspicions possibly pointing to remnants of past military activity or conflict.
Local law enforcement praised the quick-thinking actions of Muiruri, which potentially averted a major disaster.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious metallic objects or ordnance to the nearest police station immediately.
On March 18, 2023, there was panic when six mortar bombs were discovered by fishermen on a fishing expedition near Lake Victoria’s Ngodhe Islands in Mbita, Homa Bay County.
According to fishermen’s spokesperson Edward Ochieng, three fishermen had set sail as night settled on Thursday, aboard a motor-powered fishing vessel.
Armed with a lantern, the trio ventured into the still waters of the world’s second-largest freshwater lake in the hope of a handsome catch of the delicious silver cyprinid known locally as omena.
As is the tradition passed down from their forefathers, the fishermen cast their nets into the still waters and lit up the lantern as gentle winds whipped the lake, leaving a whisper that reassured them of a bountiful expedition
The boat sailed with ease towards Ngodhe when their net suddenly became heavier than usual. Beaming with excitement at the thought of the fortune that awaited them at the fishmonger’s shop the following morning, they joined hands in hauling the heavy net back to the boat.
But their excitement turned to shock when they discovered that they had caught six heavy pieces of metal resembling bombs.
Upon reaching the shore, they took cover and called the police after realising they had collected explosives.
The 80mm bombs were later kept in safe custody at the Mbita Sub-County Police Headquarters, awaiting disposal by Bomb Disposal and Hazardous Materials detectives based in Kisumu City.
The fishermen have since raised concern over the high number of explosives that have been discovered..
