Johnson Sakaja, the Nairobi County governor, has ordered all the illegal gas deports in Nairobi to discontinue operations.
What Sakaja wants Nairobi cooking gas refillers to do
The county boss issued a stern warning to the individuals who are continuing with the gross misconduct, saying it will be better if they cease such operations and if they must continue, then, they must go and get the license through the legal means in the known public offices within Nairobi.
“If you know very well you are conducting such businesses and you have chosen to deliberately go silent, you too will be responsible. We all know where to seek permission. I have received the list and I have ordered closure of such, ” Sakaja ordered.
He insisted on the non-negotiable safety of human lives, saying people should embrace humanity and not even think of comparing it with making money.
Governor Sakaja requested residents to always stay vigilant and report anything suspicious rather than waiting until it goes beyond quick intervention.
“Illegal gas refilling goes on at night and we just assume, please, I want to urge all of you to be the watchdog so that any wrongdoing should be quickly reported,” he said.
William Ruto’s directives
The Nairobi county boss order followed last week’s directive from President William Ruto who gave categorical assurance to the people of Kenya that the government officials who issued a licence to the Embakasi gas plant will be sacked and prosecuted.
Ruto said the Thursday late-night traumatic incident has unmasked those officials’ incompetency and unwavering love for corruption.
“The government officials issued licenses for gas installations in residential areas, when it was clear that it was wrong but because of incompetence and corruption they issued them . Those fellows involved, the ministry must immediately take action against them and they must be dismissed and prosecuted for the crimes committed, ” Ruto ordered.
The gas plant owner Derick Kimathi and other NEMA officials had been arrested by sleuths following the Embakasi blast which claimed six lives and left 280 people injured.
The agency said Kimathi owned an illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas ( LPG), a gas depot which was operating without acknowledgment from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Kimani and his co-accused have been detained as the police continue with investigations.