Ruto Orders Arrest of Govt Officials in Embakasi Gas Explosion
The government officials who granted licenses to the gas filling factory that exploded in Embakasi on Thursday night are to be fired, arrested, and placed under house arrest, according to an order issued by President William Ruto.
Ruto stated that the gas filling station was operating against the law during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Chekalini Market in Lugari, Kakamega County.
He added that unscrupulous government officials issued permits to the gas dealer to conduct business in a residential area hence endangering Kenyan lives.
The president thus demanded the dismissal and arrest of the government officials within 24 hours to face charges levelled against them.
“In Nairobi, there was an explosion causing grave injuries to many people because of laziness, deceit and corruption in government offices. Some granted a licence for the plant to be established at a residential area endangering the lives of Kenyans,” Ruto stated.
“I have instructed the Ministry that those responsible for granting the licence should be fired, arrested and detained today,” he added.
The President went on to say that government employees were bought off to ignore the law, which ultimately resulted in the explosion that occurred on Thursday night and left over 280 people injured.
“They (gas filling plant owners) were instructed not to establish the facility but due to bribery and lack of discipline, the licence was issued and now we have a problem in our hands,” the president said.
Hours after Daniel Kiptoo, the director of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), verified that the gas filling plant oversaw additional facilities in Embakasi and Nanyuki, Ruto issued his command.
Kiptoo continued, saying that employees were taken into custody during an EPRA raid at the Nanyuki factory.
It was also determined that the facility’s license allowed it to function solely as a transporter of LPG gas.
Director-General Kiptoo added that the gas-filling plant’s application for establishing the facility in Embakasi was rejected three times as it did not meet the stipulated safety measures.
Ruto Orders Arrest of Govt Officials in Embakasi Gas Explosion
