- The Thursday night gas explosion left three people dead and more than 280 others injured.
- Kentainers condoled with the families who lost their loved ones and wished survivors quick recovery.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Kentainers Limited has distanced itself from the Embakasi gas explosion.
The Thursday night gas explosion left three people dead and more than 280 others injured.
In a statement on Friday, Kentainers Limited dismissed media reports linking it to the tragedy saying they had moved operations to Nairobi Gate Industrial Park, Northlands area.
"We have learnt of media reports linking Kentainers Limited to the explosion that occurred at Embakasi on the night of Thursday, February 1, 2024," the statement read.
"We would like to clarify that Kentainers Limited had moved its operations to Nairobi Gate Industrial Park, Northlands area. The explosion did not occur at our former premises in Embakasi either."
Kentainers condoled with families who lost their loved ones and wished survivors a quick recovery.
"Kentainers Limited joins with the government in thanking all the institutions such as the national police, Nairobi County Government, the Kenya Red Cross, St. John's Ambulance and Kenyans for their quick response."
Media reports indicated that the explosion occurred at a gas filling depot near Kabansora in Embakasi, Nairobi.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the county has put in place measures to shelter families affected by the gas explosion with close to 250 affected families having been identified.
"Nairobi City County is taking immediate action to shelter the families affected by the recent incident in Embakasi. The families will be accommodated in the County Embakasi Social Hall, located in Utawala near the scene of the incident," Sakaja said.
The governor Sakaja all casualties from the incident have been attended to.
"Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital received and treated 216 patients today, with the last case, a child who arrived at 3:30 pm and has been catered for. Due to the influx of patients, there was an unexpected shortage of burns-related medication, our team swiftly coordinated with our other county facilities to replenish stocks at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital," he said.
President William Ruto has sent a stern warning to the owner of the gas plant and ordered the DCI to hunt down the owner of the ill-fated facility.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Ruto firmly instructed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to ensure the individual is apprehended and held accountable.
“It is now clear where this incident took place was an illegal gas filling station. The person operating it was declined a license for the plant. They have been carrying out the activities at night,” Gachagua said during his visit to the scene.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his Energy counterpart Davis Chirchir said in a joint statement that the government will demolish all illegal gas filling sites through the Multi-Agency Rapid Results Initiative.
"The government will apply punitive administrative measures to all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators found filling cylinders without the written authority of the brand owners," they said.