Police in Kitui County have intercepted a passenger bus carrying 48 rounds of ammunition believed to be compatible with AK-47 rifles, with the bullets allegedly concealed inside pieces of meat.
The discovery was made on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during a multi-agency security operation along the Thika-Garissa Highway at Kanyonyoo.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers stopped a Zafanana Coach bus operated by Northern Cruz Sacco as it travelled from Dadaab towards Nairobi.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led officers to a blue woven carrier bag placed on the overhead luggage rack serving passengers seated around seats 23, 24 and 25.
Bullets concealed inside meat
Police said the bag initially appeared to contain an ordinary consignment of meat.
However, officers discovered a black nylon package concealed within the meat.
Inside the package were 48 live rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition, a calibre commonly associated with AK-47 rifles.
The DCI described the discovery as a serious security concern, saying the ammunition had been deliberately concealed in a manner that could make it difficult for security officers to detect during transit.
Police have not yet established who placed the package on the bus or who was supposed to receive it after the journey.
Driver, turnboy arrested
Following the discovery, officers arrested the bus driver and turnboy after they were reportedly unable to explain the origin of the suspicious package or identify its owner.
The two were taken to Kanyonyoo Police Station, where they remained in custody as detectives began investigations into the consignment.
The bus was also detained while the recovered ammunition was secured as an exhibit.
Police are expected to investigate whether the two crew members knew about the ammunition or whether the package was placed on the bus without their knowledge.
Police launch probe into ammunition’s destination
The investigation will also seek to establish where the bullets originated and their intended destination.
The Thika-Garissa Highway is an important transport route linking Nairobi with Kenya’s northeastern counties, including Garissa and areas closer to the Kenya-Somalia border.
Security agencies have previously intercepted buses using the same corridor while transporting ammunition and other suspicious items.
In May 2026, the DCI reported another major interception at Kanyonyoo involving a passenger bus travelling from Lamu to Nairobi.
Officers recovered 19 rounds of 7.62×51mm G3 ammunition, 116 rounds of 7.62×39mm AK-47 ammunition, two empty AK-47 magazines and other items from a blue metallic box.
The latest recovery therefore adds to a series of security incidents that have prompted heightened scrutiny of passenger and cargo movement along the busy highway.
Police statement
The DCI said the latest operation was conducted by a multi-agency security team and that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the ammunition.
Police have not linked the arrested bus crew to any particular criminal organisation, and no charges had been reported against them at the time of publication.
The suspects will remain subject to the ongoing investigation as authorities seek to determine who owned the ammunition, how it got onto the bus and where it was headed.
The recovered 48 rounds have been taken into police custody as investigators pursue further leads.
The article keeps the allegations attributed to police and avoids presenting the driver’s or turnboy’s involvement as established fact.
FOLLOW NAIROBI NEWS ON FACEBOOK
If you like our work, you can buy us a soda
Buy us a soda 🥤
