- Following the Embakasi deadly incident, the government announced a raft of measures to ensure compliance in the sector.
- Police commanders have been ordered to liaise with other government agencies for operations targeting such illegal facilities.
Image: FILE
A businessman was arrested in the Milimani area, Kiminini, Bungoma county over claims of operating an illegal gas refilling station.
The station is based at his private home, police said as they announced a major countrywide operation targeting such facilities.
The raid comes in the wake of the explosion at a gas refilling station in Embakasi, Nairobi that left six people dead and 300 injured.
There is a planned countrywide operation targeting the perceived illegal stations.
According to police, they recovered assorted empty gas cylinders, filled gas cylinders and several 20 litres of jerricans with gas for refilling.
Also recovered were 27 bags of charcoal, which were being sold without a forest produce permit.
The suspect was interrogated and detained ahead of planned arraignment, police said.
Officials said regional police commanders have been ordered to liaise with other government agencies for operations targeting such illegal facilities.
Preliminary findings show the facilities are rampant and some are in residential areas which pose a threat in general.
Following the Embakasi deadly incident, the government announced a raft of measures to ensure compliance in the sector.
They include undertaking a fresh risk assessment for all LPG plants with the view of closing all non-compliant sites, demolishing all illegal sites, an immediate rollout of a government LPG growth strategy and strengthening the LPG data verification framework, among other measures.
The Embakasi explosion has left many officials in a blame game amid calls for action.
The blast displaced many others who are currently seeking shelter in public places and private houses.
At least four suspects including the owner of the yard and National Environment Management Authority (Nema) officials have been arrested over the fire.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said Sunday seven people are in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
KUTRRH has seen a total of 27 patients, with eight already discharged and 19 currently under care, including 10 males, six females, and three minors.
KNH received 67 patients from the incident, with six in critical condition, suffering from severe burns.