A routine road check turned tense on the Garissa–Thika Highway after police found live ammunition on a passenger bus.

Two people were arrested on Tuesday in Kanyonyoo, Lower Yatta Sub-County, Kitui County, after officers discovered 30 rounds of live ammunition during a multi-agency roadblock. The bus was carrying passengers at the time.

According to the National Police Service (NPS), officers searched the vehicle and noticed a backpack left on one of the seats. Inside, they found a black carrier bag wrapped in brown paper.

“Upon conducting a search, the officers recovered a backpack left on a passenger seat containing 30 rounds of live ammunition,” the NPS said in a statement.

Officers said the cartridges appeared to be rifle ammunition. Some were bright and copper-toned, while others looked older and darker, suggesting they came from different batches.

The two suspects were taken to Kanyonyoo Police Station for processing and are expected to be presented in court. The bus was also detained briefly as investigations began, while the ammunition was secured as evidence.

Police did not say who owned the backpack or how the ammunition ended up on the bus. Investigations are ongoing.

Under Kenyan law, possession of ammunition without proper authorisation is a serious offence. Suspects must be taken to court within 24 hours, in line with the Constitution. If convicted, penalties may include a fine, a prison term, or both, depending on the circumstances.

Authorities say the operation was part of wider efforts to keep highways safe.

The NPS said it remains focused on stopping the illegal movement of firearms and ammunition, especially along major transport routes used by the public.

Recent months have seen a series of security operations on highways across the country, leading to arrests linked to robberies, hijackings and other violent crimes. Police say the checks are meant to deter criminals while protecting passengers and motorists.

For travellers along busy routes like Garissa–Thika, Tuesday’s arrest was a reminder of the risks — and the role routine checks play in preventing worse outcomes.