NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 — The death toll from Thursday night’s Embakasi gas blast has risen to seven after another victim succumbed to burn injuries Tuesday night.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura also announced the arrest of another suspect in a statement issued Wednesday.
He announced a toll free line to report illegal gas refilling operations amid concern over the proliferation of unregulated operations within residential areas.
“Kenyans are encouraged to report any illegal gas filling station through number 020 3313004,” he appealed.
Mwaura said police had arrested another suspect identified as Linet Cheruiyot (Senior Environmental Officer: NEMA), adding the State will file for custodial orders at a court in Nairobi’s Makadara on Wednesday.
Cheruiyot’s arrest raises the number of persons held by the police to five, with four other suspects having been presented in court on Tuesday.
The police presented businessman Derrick Kimathi at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi where the State sought twenty-one days to conclude investigations.
Kimathi appeared alongside three officials of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) identified as David Ongare (Director Environment Compliance), Joseph Makau (Head Environmental Impact Assessment), and Mirrian Kioko.
Trial Magistrate Dolphina Alego adjourned the pre-trial hearing on the detention of the four suspects promising a verdict on Wednesday.
Custodial orders
Two senior public prosecutors Dorcas Rugut and James Gachoka, and Chief Inspector Tenai, who is the leading investigation, told the court the State needed time to investigate crimes of murder as a result of the explosion at the plant declared illegal by the energy regulator, EPRA.
Tenai told the court the tragic incident left over 300 residents injured after a fireball blasted off the illegal plant sending shockwaves to nearby residential areas.
DCI cited the need to undertake DNA analysis to identify victims who perished following the incident noting some remains were unrecognizable.
“Police need time to record statements from relatives of the six deceased persons and the injured persons who are traumatized and undergoing treatment in various city health facilities,” Tenai told the court.
He told the court a search was ongoing to arrest Stephen Kilonzo (the site manager), Ann Kabiri Mirungi (NEMA), and truck drivers Robert Gitau and Abraham Mwangi.
