Embakasi gas explosion: Death toll rises to six

The death toll from the gas plant explosion in Embakasi East's Mradi area in Nairobi has risen to six, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has confirmed.

As of Friday, the tragedy had left at least three dead and nearly 300 wounded, and the expectation was that the numbers would rise.

"The death toll has unfortunately risen to six. We will share the details later," Mwaura told The Eastleigh Voice by phone on Sunday.

The government on Friday revealed the cause of the explosion, saying, "The refilling of Liquid Petroleum Gas cylinders was done using direct manifold connections to the LPG tanker, increasing the risk of leakage and explosion."

In a joint statement, the Interior and Energy ministries also confirmed claims by multiple victims who had been living close to the plant that the gas had leaked extensively before the explosions, causing panic and injuries as residents scampered for safety.

"We were getting ready to attend a wake when we felt the smell of leaking gas. The smell grew stronger making us curious as to what was happening but before long, the first explosion went off," Fenny Kemunto, who was left homeless, earlier told The Eastleigh Voice.

"We went outside to check what was happening and saw a huge ball of fire in the air. We then rushed back for our children and in the process suffered multiple burns, my sister has since been admitted to the hospital."

The ministries further confirmed findings that the plant was illegally constructed as the location was blacklisted twice by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) - in March 2020 and January 2021 - and structures demolished.

The proprietor and his clients were all convicted but court recommendations for their punishments were disregarded and more lenient actions taken, according to the Petroleum Institute Of East Africa (PIEA).

The operators attempted to gain permits for constructing an LPG storage and filling plant on March 19, June 20, and July 31, 2023, but they were all rejected for not meeting requirements including passing a risk assessment and being located away from a residential area.

Joint investigations

The two ministries said their teams "will fully collaborate with other government agencies to investigate this incident and prosecute any persons found in breach of the law".

Meanwhile, the government will work with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to demolish illegal sites across the country and ensure a fresh risk assessment is undertaken for all LPG plants in the country.

The State will also roll out its own LPG growth strategy, which includes developing and implementing a track and trace framework for LPG cylinders, to improve traceability and accountability.

It will apply administrative measures on all LPG operators found filling cylinders without the written authority of the brand owners.

The two ministries will also conduct public awareness and sensitisation exercises on LPG safety countrywide.

In his statement on the tragedy, President William Auto blamed incompetent and corrupt government officials, whom he said should be prosecuted and fired.

“Government officials issued licences for gas installations in residential areas when it was very clear that it was the wrong thing to do," he said.

The National Environment Authority (NEMA) said preliminary investigations found that four of its officers unprocedurally processed the licence for the Mradi site.

"The board therefore directs that the implicated officers step aside immediately pending further investigation by the relevant government agencies," NEMA Board Chairman Emilio Mugo said in a statement on Saturday.