A driver with the Kenya Power company on Monday narrowly escaped death after the vehicle he was driving ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mandera.
Confirming the incident, Lafey Deputy County Commissioner Eric Oronyi said the driver was not injured when he ran over the explosive device planted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants along the newly tarmacked Rhamu-Elwak road.
Oronyi said the Toyota Land Cruiser was slightly damaged during the incident when the driver tried to avoid running over a heap of soil on the road that turned out to be an IED.
The county commissioner said the explosion shuttered the cars windscreen and caused a tyre burst in the vehicle that had only one occupant, the driver.
“The driver reported that while along the highway between Chabi and Bamboo villages, he saw a suspicious heap of soil on the road and as he swerved it exploded.”
“The driver did not stop despite the tire burst until he reached the nearest police post because he feared for the worst,” said Oronyi as quoted by nation.co.ke.
Oronyi said measures have been put in place to improve security in the area adding that they have launched a search for those who may have planted the explosive device.
“We are increasing our security patrols to flush out the usual suspects. I urge road users to continue with their businesses because the situation is under control,” he added.