One dead, 13 injured in second Nairobi blast

At least one person was killed Monday evening and 13 others injured in a second explosion to hit Kenya's capital, Nairobi in 24 hours.

The 8pm (local time) explosion was believed to have been a grenade hurled at a moving matatu (minibus) near a crowded terminus between Race Course and Landhies roads.

The injured were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment as security officers drawn from the General Service Unit and the police cordoned off the scene opposite the former Jack and Jill Supermarket.

The covered body of the dead person was still at the scene when the Nation team arrived.

Witnesses said the grenade was thrown at a matatu full of passengers, but bounced off its window and exploded in a crowd of people rushing to board buses.

A police officer, who sought anonymity, said they had collected the remains of the explosive device, which they identified as a hand grenade.

The explosion came hardly 24 hours after another hand grenade was hurled into a night club along Mfangano Lane in the city, injuring 14 people.

One of those injured in the second blast was taken to theatre in bad state. Most of the victims sustained injuries on their legs.

Following the two explosions, Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia announced a ban on fireworks displays during Diwali and Christmas festivities.

A major crackdown on illegal Somali immigrants was also under way in the country on Monday.

Arrests were reported in Malindi at the coast and Nakuru, about 150km west of Nairobi, with some of those seized already charged in court.