The death toll from the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi, Nairobi, has risen to six, with three additional victims succumbing to their burns in hospital, according to officials.
The individuals had sustained severe injuries and were admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital, where they later passed away. Dozens of other victims with serious burns are currently hospitalized in various city hospitals, including at least 20 who were referred to KNH for their critical conditions.
Following the Thursday night explosion at a filling station, some individuals were left with severe injuries, and they hope to be compensated by the yard owners and the government. Over 300 people were injured and are receiving treatment in various hospitals across the city.
Detectives have arrested one of the directors at the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and are continuing their search for more suspects behind the incident. The arrested official is a deputy compliance director at NEMA. An autopsy on the bodies is planned as part of the investigation into the deaths, with police intending to charge those involved with murder.
Authorities are pursuing at least seven suspects, including Derick Kimathi, the proprietor of the illegal gas filling plant, Steve Kioko (Kimathi’s partner), and the truck driver suspected of causing the explosion, whose status is yet to be confirmed. Additionally, three NEMA officials were suspended for allegedly issuing a license illegally to Kimathi’s company.
Kimathi, through his lawyer Wandugi Kirathe, has denied the claims, stating that he has been cooperating with police officers investigating the matter. He had applied to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) last year for a license to operate a gas filling plant in the area, but the applications were rejected. Kimathi argues that he abandoned the idea after EPRA rejected the applications due to the site’s lack of viability in close proximity to the public.
In response to the incident, the government announced several measures to ensure compliance in the sector. These measures include conducting a fresh risk assessment for all LPG plants, with the intention of closing all non-compliant sites, demolishing illegal sites, an immediate rollout of a government LPG growth strategy, and strengthening the LPG data verification framework, among others.
