Milimani Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Wednesday, February 28, freed the owner of the Embakasi gas plant which resulted in the death of more than three Kenyans.
Magistrate Alego released him on a cash bail of ksh500,000 with an alternative of Ksh2 million bond.
Additionally, the magistrate ordered the businessman to surrender his travel documents including his passport.
"These are the orders of this court, the suspect to deposit his passport in this court and the remaining investigations to continue when the respondent deposits the cash bail,' the ruling read in part.
His lawyer noted that it was unnecessary to hold his client further adding that the suspect was having health issues and needed medical attention.
On the other hand, the businessman has been freed despite an application from the prosecution who sought to extend the man's detention period to 14 days.
Additionally, the investigation officer had opposed the release of the suspect arguing that he may interfere with the investigations.
The officer told the court that more time was needed to conduct investigations including going through reports from relevant bodies such as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
He was among the suspects arrested by investigating officers for operating an illegal gas plant which exploded on February 2 resulting in massive destruction of human life and property.
The gas plant was operating in a residential area and locals complained that efforts to get it shut down bore no fruits. They disclosed that on the day of the accident, one had raised an alarm on a suspected gas leak.
Besides the owner, officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) were suspended and some arrested.
Embakasi Member of Parliament Babu Owino has called for prompt investigations and also calling for the resignation and impeachment of a few officials including Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.
"He ought to have followed up and known that this company that isn't issued with the license to trade, why is it proceeding to do so and he is also vicariously liable under the law of Tort," he stated on February 15.
