The Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Daniel Kiptoo has come out to shed more light on the Embakasi LPG gas facility, where an explosion occurred yesterday leaving three people dead and 280 injured.
In an interview, Kiptoo stated that the Embakasi facility is not new to EPRA.
“We demolished the site in 2020 and a second time after that but unfortunately it kept mushrooming back up. What we found out during investigation is that they were filling LPG gas cylinders directly out of a truck, which is an offense under Legal Notice 100, which is the LPG regulation.”
He also added that EPRA did not approve any license for the facility, confirming a statement given by the authority yesterday. It revealed that the company’s license application to build an LPG facility was denied three times on separate occasions. An email was sent to them with reasons why, which included safety concerns by EPRA.
“This is an illegal facility. We are following up on the matter with a multi-agency team to bring those culpable to book.”
Who owns the LPG gas facility in Embakasi?
Kiptoo explained that the LPG gas facility in Embakasi where an explosion led to the death of three people is owned by a company called Maxis. It is licensed by EPRA as a transporter of LPG and also licensed to operate a facility in Nanyuki.
“We did raid the facility the week before last and found them conducting illegal activities of filling other brand owners’ cylinders. We arrested those present at the site, we prosecuted them in court and the matter is ongoing, he added.”
What was destroyed during the gas explosion in Embakasi?
At around 11.30 pm Thursday, February 1, 2024, an LPG gas explosion at Mradi Area in Embakasi had residents on alert. People ran for their lives as the fire spread to other parts of the area, destroying commercial and residential buildings and vehicles that were nearby.
Residents in the location have been displaced, and others lost their businesses to the fire, which was quickly responded to by the Kenya Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and the police, among other emergency services.
Three people lost their lives following the explosion. 280 others were injured and taken to various hospitals in the city for treatment.
Speaking at the scene of the incident, Embakasi East Legislator Babu Owino and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua promised to help victims of the explosion recover.
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