Attacks in Mombasa followed by twin blasts on buses in Kenyan capital

Powerful explosions ripped through two passenger buses in the Kenyan capital yesterday, a day after twin attacks rocked the port city of Mombasa.

The blasts hit two buses packed with commuters along Thika Highway, said Moses Ombati, deputy police chief in Nairobi. He said one person was killed and several hurt. Another officer said at least 27 people were wounded, six of them critically.

Eliud Lagat, deputy head of the bomb disposal unit, said the blasts were caused by improvised explosive devices

Images shown on Kenyan television showed a red passenger bus with a large hole ripped out of its side, and a green bus with its roof and sided buckled by an explosion.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, although Kenyan authorities are engaged in a major security crackdown targeting suspected supporters of neighbouring Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab rebels.

The attacks came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang prepares to visit the country later this week as part of a four-country tour of Africa.

In Mombasa, at least four people were killed in a grenade blast in one of two explosions along the coast of Kenya on Saturday.