The Embakasi gas explosion that killed seven and left scores injured has taken a new twist after a witness revealed its last moments.
A witness who spoke to Citizen TV revealed that the explosion occurred after a group of gas retailers from the area colluded with the tanker's driver to refill their cylinders illegally.
In a time-lapse video depicting the last moments before the explosion, residents could be heard calling on motorists using a nearby road to halt their trips after noticing a gas leakage that had filled the air.
They could also be heard asking a car driver who had parked his vehicle close to the gas plant to turn off the ignition, warning him of an impending calamity. However, the driver did not heed the call and lost his life in the explosion.
Recalling the events that fateful night, the witness noted that the gas tanker driver arrived at the plant at around 10 pm and looked for customers nearby whose empty cylinders needed refill.
"The driver parked the trailer and went out looking for buyers. He mostly targets gas retailers and restaurants," revealed the witness.
"Later, he found potential buyers, took them inside and began refilling the cylinders. I was not so close to the plant but I could see what was going on."
Ten minutes into the refilling process, the driver of the trailer could be seen walking away while warning those around of a gas leakage.
"When the driver unlocked the gas, it seems he was unable to lock it back and when he got out of the gas plant, he was warning people of the impending danger," the witness recalled.
Earlier, the residents had on several occasions warned the drivers against parking their trailers close to residential houses.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have since arrested the suspects who are currently in detention for 21 days pending the completion of investigations. The manhunt for the driver is still ongoing.
