Nairobi County government has shut down 10 gas refilling plants operating within residential areas in Nairobi.
The closure comes within 24 hours after Governor Johnson Sakaja ordered a crackdown on plants operating within a 200-metre radius of any residential premises.
Speaking on Wednesday at City Hall, Sakaja confirmed the closure, instructing the county secretary to move forward with the other 100 plants within residential areas.
“Even if they have a NEMA and EPRA license, Nairobi County will not condone operations risking people’s lives,” Sakaja stated.
Sakaja also exposed a resident providing gas refill services inside their house, urging citizens to help by reporting illegal businesses operating near their homes.
“Today I received a message informing me someone refilling gas cylinders inside his house in an estate in the Buruburu area. If something went wrong and an explosion happened, how many would die?” Sakaja posed.
Defending the closures made, Sakaja condemned people defending the refilling plants, advising them to relocate the stations to industrial areas or any other commercial areas.
“You know the population residing along Kinyanjui Road and Kabwagi. People are refilling gases in there, very wrong,” he stated.
The governor further criticised political leaders for taking advantage to politicise the Embakasi gas explosion, as it is a matter of life and death.
“There are many ways of making money, however, in situations where human lives are in question, we can’t second-guess our decisions,” he added.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki on February 2 announced a nationwide crackdown on all illegal sites refilling gases, including demolition of those operating without a license.
"The government will apply punitive administrative measures to all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators found filling cylinders without the written authority of the brand owners," Kindiki stated.
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