A Kenyan legislator for Embakasi East, Hon. Babu Owino, is calling for the impeachment of the country’s Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Energy, Davis Chirchir, for the tragic gas explosion in Embakasi which claimed the lives of 10 people and left several severely injured on Friday, February 2, 2024.
Hon. Owino accused Chirchir of negligence, alleging that the CS failed to ensure proper regulation and oversight, despite the company in question not having been issued a trading licence.
“I came here to get answers from the Cabinet Secretary irrespective of our political parties because when we are here, we are representing the people of Kenya.
He ought to have followed up and known that this company that is not issued a licence to trade is proceeding to trade,” Owino said during Parliamentary proceedings on Thursday.
Owino also criticised the Energy CS for failing to comply with the summons issued by the Senate.
“It’s an insult … for a CS not to obey the orders, the summons given by this honorable senate,” Owino asserted.
He further questioned the credibility of Chirchir as a witness, suggesting that his refusal to adhere to the summons raised concerns about his reliability and accountability calling for his immediate impeachment.
“And, therefore, CS David Chirchir has proven to be an unreliable witness who on the witness stand should be impeached,” Babu said.
He also noted the consequences of the explosion, highlighting the mounting medical bills and suffering experienced by the affected families.
“Our people are suffering, bills are accumulating in the hospitals.
It’s a really sad state of affairs to be here because probably a CS feels he is more important than other members here,” he added.
Chirchir and Daniel Kiptoo, who heads the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, have been summoned by the Senate Energy Committee again after failing to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, February 14.
They are expected to appear before the committee on Tuesday, February 20, to provide clarification on the Embakasi explosion incident.
The committee members are considering the possibility of censuring both officials due to what they perceive as professional negligence and a poor approach to handling the situation.
Senator Wahome Wamatinga, who chaired the committee, noted the gravity of the matter and expressed disappointment at their failure to attend the emergency session.
Chirchir, in a letter of apology to the committee, explained his absence was due to travel abroad.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
