The Mombasa Raha bus driver who was behind the wheel during an attack at Nyongoro in Lamu has spoken about the ordeal for the first time in public.

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Speaking to members of the press on Friday, a day after the attack, the brave driver explained how he was able to save the lives of the 47 passengers he was carrying.

As the bus approached Nyongoro, he saw people emerging from a nearby forest who fired in the air in a bid to get the bus to stop. 

Sensing danger, the driver pressed the accelerator even as the front wheel got hit and got deflated in the process.

Having moved a safe distance away from what he felt were terrorists, he stopped the bus and asked the passengers inside to get out and run for their dear lives.

"They shot three times in the air hoping that I would slow down but I refused to slow down. I kept moving with the deflated tyres for a distance of about 100 metres and then I told the passengers to get out and run for their dear lives (Walishoot risasi tatu juujuu, waliposhoot risasi tatu juu, walitaka mimi ni slow down lakini nikakataa. Mimi nikazidi kusonga na hizo rims hatua kama 100 metres hivi nikasimama huko, nilipofungua mpango nikaambia abiria kila mtu akimbie aende zake), " the driver said

Security officers have launched a manhunt for the suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists.