Kenyan President, William Ruto, has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to hunt for the owner of the gas filling plant in Embakasi that exploded Thursday night, killing three people and leaving hundreds injured.
This was revealed by the Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, when he saw and survivors of the tragedy at the Kenyatta National Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
According to a report by ‘The Star’ of Kenya, which quoted Gachagua, the owner would face the law for the deaths, injuries and displacement of hundreds of residents affected.
“It is now clear that this incident took place at an illegal gas filling station.
The person operating it was declined a licence for the plant.
They have been carrying out the activities at night,” the Deputy President said.
According to the Deputy President, investigative agencies had commenced investigations and were in pursuit of the owner of the plant.
“DCI officers are in hot pursuit of the owner.
The DCI has clear instructions to do whatever it takes and to have the culprit apprehended and presented before the court of law with a litany of charges,” he said.
The DP added that the owner must take responsibility for the deaths of innocent Kenyans and for the injuries and destruction of property.
The DP noted that it was wrong for unscrupulous businessmen to look for shortcuts to quick riches at the expense of the lives of innocent Kenyans.
“I appeal to businessmen not to put money ahead of humanity and lives.
It is unthinkable and unfortunate that in pursuit of quick riches by some of the businessmen, the lives of Kenyans are endangered,” he added.
He also conveyed President William Ruto’s condolences to the bereaved families and sympathies to the patients.
Gachagua said the government would push MPs to pass tighter laws with stiffer penalties for those found in violation of laws on trading illegally in petroleum products.
“We will ask the lawmakers to tighten regulations of the handling of petroleum products because of the danger they pose to Kenyans,” he said.
Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said in a statement that the plant had been operating illegally after it was banned from running the business.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com