Couple killed in suspected suicide bombing in western Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya

An elderly couple was killed and their daughter injured in a suspected suicide blast in western Kenya late Tuesday, police said.

A suicide bomber is said to have blown himself in the Nyackach area of Kisumu county, Nyakach police chief Daniel Chacha told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the bomber is a suspected terrorist linked to the Somali-based al-Shabaab terror group.

The incident took place when the suspect, identified as Joseph Odhiambo Ondiek alias Pope, went to the victims' residence. Mary Atieno and Petro Onyango died while their daughter, Nancy Aoko, was injured and is said to be in critical condition.

Nyanza region police chief Karanja Muiruri said the police are treating the incident as an act of terrorism, and further investigation is underway.

Al Shabaab has carried out attacks in Kenya due to Kenya’s military contribution to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.