Explosives found in Meru-bound bus spark major anti-terror investigation as five suspects are arrested, including a woman who disguised the deadly cargo in a milk box. Get the full story on this alarming security breach.
May 6, 2025 — A high-stakes counter-terror operation led to the arrest of five suspects after a carton of milk-branded boxes was found to contain powerful explosives aboard a Meru-bound passenger bus.
The discovery was made on Tuesday during a routine security patrol by a multi-agency team along the Kanyonyoo–Embu Highway. Officers flagged down the passenger vehicle for a standard inspection. Upon searching the luggage compartment, they grew suspicious of a carton box labeled with a popular milk brand.
When the box was opened, officers were stunned to find a deadly cache: ten water gel explosives marked EXPLOGEL V6, a detonating cord, and two IDEAL Electric Detonators. The items were immediately secured, and the scene was cordoned off as bomb disposal experts were called in to neutralize any immediate threat.
The bus driver, Lawrance Kioko Mutuku, and the conductor, Said Rashid Amour, were arrested on the spot and taken to Kanyonyoo Police Station for further interrogation. The bus was also escorted to the station under tight security and remains impounded as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a forensic investigation was launched immediately. The operation involved the Anti-Terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) and the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU). Their efforts quickly bore fruit.
Digital evidence and waybill tracing led detectives to Brenda Imboyanga Makhulungu, who was arrested in Mundutsu village, Kakamega County. Police say Brenda was the registered sender of the suspicious package and had declared the contents as “Dawa ya Maji” (loosely translated to “Water Treatment Chemicals”) at the Tahmeed office in Kakamega.
Investigations revealed that Brenda had carefully planned the transport route of the explosives — first dispatching the package from Kakamega to Mombasa, and then rerouting it to Meru via Kitui, using multiple bus lines to obscure its trail.
“Her intention was to avoid detection by exploiting Kenya’s parcel delivery networks, using multiple transit points and innocent-looking packaging,” said a senior ATPU officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The trail didn’t end there.
Two additional suspects — David Tindi Andala and John Kariuki Kung’u — were arrested in Meru town, believed to be the intended recipients or handlers of the explosives upon arrival. Their roles are still under investigation, but early reports suggest the network may be part of a broader plot or criminal enterprise involving illicit arms movement.
All five suspects are currently in custody, and investigators are working to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy, including whether the materials were meant for terror activities, mining operations, or other unlawful use. The police are treating the case with the highest level of seriousness given the nature of the materials involved.
Security officials have commended the alertness and coordination of the officers involved in the interception, warning that criminal elements continue to exploit public transport systems to move dangerous materials.
“This operation is a testament to the effectiveness of our security intelligence and patrol teams,” the DCI said in a statement. “We urge all transport operators and logistics staff to remain vigilant and report any suspicious parcels or unusual senders.”
Members of the public are also encouraged to be on the lookout for packages with vague descriptions, suspicious labeling, or irregular routing.
The intercepted materials — including the explosives, detonators, and the vehicle — have been retained as exhibits and will be presented in court as part of the prosecution’s case. The suspects are expected to face charges related to the possession, transport, and potential trafficking of explosives under Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism and Explosives Control Laws.
The case remains under active investigation as authorities widen the net to determine if there are more accomplices or a larger network involved.
