President William Ruto has ordered the immediate sacking, arrest and prosecution of government officials who issued licences to the gas filling plant that exploded in Embakasi on the night of February 1, 2024.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for Chekalini Market in Lugari, Kakamega County on Saturday, January 3, 2024, Ruto blamed the explosion on corrupt government officials.
The President lamented that State officials issued licences to the gas filling plant when it was obvious that the facility posed an existential threat to residents.
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"Kule Nairobi juzi kumetokea mlipuko ya mambo ya gas na wanainchi wengi wameumia kwa sababu ya uzembe na ulaghai na mambo ya ufisadi ya officers wa serikali. Kuna watu wameenda wakaweka leseni kwa residential areas mahali wananchi wanakaa wanaatarisha maisha ya wananchi," Ruto said.
The head of state further directed the Energy Ministry to immediately sack its officials who were involved in issuing the licences for the doomed gas plant.
"Nimeambia wizara, wale watu ambao wamehusika kutoa hio leseni mahali ambapo hapafai, hawa watu waondoke kazini leo na wapelekwe jela. Kwa sababu hawa watu wanajua ya kwamba walikatazwa waliambiwa wasipatiane hio leseni lakini kwa hongo na ukora na mambo ya kukosa nidhamu wameenda wakaissue licence now we have a problem in our hands," he said.
Ruto further repeated his message while speaking in English to stress the seriousness of his directive about sacking and prosecuting the corrupt government officials at the Energy Ministry.
"I want to say for the avoidance of doubt the fellows, the government officials who issued licences for gas installations in residential areas when it was very clear that it was the wrong thing to do but because of incompetence and corruption they issued licences, today we have injuries, we have Kenyans who have died. Those fellows who are involved in this, the ministry must immediately take action against them and they must be dismissed and they must be prosecuted for the crimes they have committed," Ruto said.
PIEA
Ruto's directive came hours after the Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) issued a statement revealing more details about the Embakasi gas plant.
In their statement, PIEA noted that the firm owner and clients who distributed his product were convicted of a criminal case on November 9, 2020.
The case was filed at the Milimani Law courts in Nairobi and all the accused persons were found guilty and convicted with a sentence issued on May 18, 2023.
PIEA underscored that despite the convictions, the plant continued operating illegally without the minimum safety standards and qualified LPG personnel as required by the law.
Following the unfortunate incident, the agency cautioned members of the public against buying LPG cylinders from distributors and retailers without a receipt.
