The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has launched a new coalition named Coalition for Safety (C4S) which has been mandated with carrying out the nationwide campaign, Kaa Safe Mtaani to curb electrical and petroleum accidents.
Daniel Kiptoo, EPRA's Director General, announced this during a stakeholders meeting on Thursday, March 13, stating that the nationwide campaign will anchor on four main pillars including; education, collaboration, enforcement, and public perception change.
"The Coalition for Safety(C4S) has been formed under the Kaa Safe Mtaani campaign to encourage a culture of safety in the sector, and to make sustainable gains through public and private sector collaboration," Kiptoo stated.
"It’s time that everyone in the energy and petroleum value chains takes personal responsibility for safety in order to build trust and adequately prepare for advancements we are seeing in the sector."
While delivering his speech, Kiptoo noted that the formation of C4S was necessitated by the alarming rise of electrical and petroleum accidents in the country.
Reportedly, as of June 2024, 153 electrical accidents were reported, marking an increase from 116 incidents recorded in the previous year. These accidents resulted in 98 fatalities and left 61 individuals injured. Alongside these, 16 animals also lost their lives in the incidents.
Although the number of petroleum accidents dropped to 49, the DG noted that tanker accidents still posed a significant risk.
Citing the Mradi, Embakasi petrol station explosion that claimed 2 lives and injured 222 others, he added that drastic steps needed to be taken to prevent a recurrence.
"The recent tragedy in Mradi at Embakasi in February 2024, which claimed lives, serves as a painful reminder that we cannot afford to be complacent. Statistics indicate that low awareness levels on the perception of risk, compliance, and safety requirements have contributed significantly to these accidents," he stated.
"According to our EPRA 2024 Public Awareness Survey, over 60 per cent of Kenyans lack sufficient knowledge on safe handling of LPG, petroleum and electricity, leading to preventable accidents and economic losses."
In carrying out the campaign, C4S will educate consumers, businesses and communities on safety regulations, best practices and the consequences of non-compliance as well as bring together government agencies, industry players, civil societies and consumers to collectively promote energy safety.
It will also be a crackdown to ensure that licensees and stakeholders adhere to set regulations. Lastly, the coalition will seek to shift public perception of the risks associated with the improper handling of energy products and foster a proactive approach to safety.
