Mathu Mbiti, a resident of Kyome Thaana, Mwingi West and who was working in Mandera has recounted the horrible ordeal of an IED explosion that took place on Monday April 29, 2024 at Elwak.

Mathu disclosed that he and his friends, who apparently come from the same home area, had assembled in their usual place waiting to secure casual jobs in nearby construction sites, before the explosion occurred.

“The explosion occurred at a place where casual labourers usually assemble as they wait to be recruited for available casual jobs in the morning,” said Mathu. 

“It was hidden underground, so we could not expect such a thing,” he added

Luckily, he was a few meters from his friends and that’s how he escaped death.

Following the explosion, everyone fled including him, but he came back a few minutes later and discovered that two people from his home area had died on spot and two others were taken to hospital.

He added that the government made arrangements and ferried the bodies to Nairobi, at city mortuary for preservation.

Mathu urged the government to beef up security in the area as many non-locals have camped in Mandera, searching for jobs amid escalating unemployment rates in the country.

On the other hand, the two families that lost their loved ones have pleaded with the government to help clear the burial expenses.

“I urge the government to help families who lost their loved ones during the tragedy, since most of them had young children who needed help,” Mathu said. 

Those with their kins hospitalized have also pleaded for government intervention to bring them to nearer hospitals.

According to Mathu six people from Mwingi lost their lives during the explosion; four from Wingemi, Nuu ward in Mwingi central and two from Mwingi west.