The government has disclosed the cause of the fatal gas plant explosion in Embakasi estate, Nairobi, which has thus far resulted in three fatalities and over 300 injuries.

In a joint statement by Cabinet Secretaries Davis Chirchir (Energy) and Kithure Kindiki (Internal Security), it was revealed that the explosion resulted from a mishap during the refilling of gas cylinders.

“Preliminary findings indicate that on the fateful night (in Embakasi), the refilling of LPG cylinders was conducted using direct manifold connections to the LPG tanker, thereby increasing the risk of leakage and explosion,” the statement, released on Friday evening, reads in part.

To prevent similar tragedies in the future, Kindiki and Chirchir announced a series of new measures. They stated that the government will demolish all illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage and filling plants across the country.

Furthermore, they emphasized that operators found refilling cylinders without authorization from the brand owners will face the full force of the law. Additionally, they mentioned that a risk assessment exercise for all LPG plants is in the works.

EPRA: We rejected three applications for permits for the Embakasi gas plant

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) maintains it thrice rejected applications for construction permits for a gas storage and filling plant at the site of the explosion.

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The authority says it received the applications on 19th March, 20th June, and 31st July 2023, and rejected all of them as they did not meet the criteria for an LPG storage and filling plant in that area.

“The main reason for the rejection was the failure of the designs to meet the safety distances stipulated in the Kenya Standard,” EPRA says in a statement seen by TV47 Digital.