A gas cylinder explosion at Mudavadi Market, Nyeri County, left 16 people with serious injuries on Monday as Governor Mutahi Kahiga toured the area.
Two people were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 10 were admitted to the burn ward with severe and superficial burns while four were treated for shock.
Health Executive Rachel Kamau conveyed the details to members of the press explaining that the Governor had not been injured in the incident.
A vendor at the market, Josphat Muriuki, narrated that: "I heard a loud sound and then saw the hotel on fire. People inside started screaming, so we rushed to help."
[caption caption="Firefighters offer assistance during the gas explosion at Mudavadi Market, Nyeri on May 7, 2018"]
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A shopper, Teresa Kimani, told Standard: "It was chaos at the market, as people tried to grab buckets of water to put out the fire."
She also commended the Nyeri County Fire Department for prompt response noting that they arrived just moments after alarm was raised.
"They arrived very fast. There were firefighters and medical personnel who helped to take the injured to hospital," she relayed.
The incident came just days after the county swore in its first deputy governor to be appointed through approval by the county assembly.
Caroline Karugu took the oath of office on May 4, 2018, after scoring a 92% approval rating from members of the county assembly Committee on Appointments.
"The nominee was well versed with the mandate of the office and she had a good understanding of the challenges facing the county and the modalities of addressing them," Majority Leader James Kanyugo stated.
[caption caption="Nyeri deputy governor Caroline Karugu"]
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