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Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has raised an alarm over another cooking gas filling plant in Thika.

According to Kuria, the plant located in the Kiandutu slums, Kiambu County bears no identity and poses a similar danger similar to the one in Mradi, Embakasi that caused the Thursday night gas explosion and subsequent inferno.

The CS has directed the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to do due diligence and ensure compliance adding that he suspects the plant lacks a business permit.

“Dear@EPRA_Ke this gas-filling place next to Kiandutu Police Station in Thika is the next Embakasi. What I know is that it’s not branded. There is no name on the premises. What I do not know is whether it’s licensed. I suspect it is not. What I do not know is whether the reports from locals that the police spent the whole day there receiving bribes are true. That is for you to verify,” the CS stated on his X account.

Dear @EPRA_Ke this gas filling place next to Kiandutu Police Station in Thika is the next Embakasi. What I know is that it’s not branded. There is no name at the premises. What I do not know is whether its licenses. I suspect it is not. What I do not know is whether the reports… pic.twitter.com/JNGN90Xz3H

— CS Moses Kuria (@HonMoses_Kuria) February 2, 2024

Moses Kuria’s sentiments follow the Embakasi gas blast that was caused after a truck carrying gas blew up at about half past eleven on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at night before igniting a huge ball of fire that spread widely.

So far, at least three people have lost their lives and hundreds of people are nursing injuries.

Government institutions have since established that the filling plant was unlicensed and that the culprit had been denied a business permit on several occasions.

Following the revelation, the government has since issued six directives to all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dealers across the country including a nationwide crackdown to ensure compliance.

“To sustain compliance efforts, the government will prioritize demolition of all illegal sites through the Multi-Agency Rapid Results Initiatives and ensure that fresh risk assessment is undertaken for all LPG plants in the country with the view of closing all non-compliant sites,” part of the statement read.

In a joint press release by the Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki, the ministers stated that there will be an immediate rollout of government LPG growth which includes the development and implementation of a track and trace framework for LPG cylinders to improve traceability and accountability.

“Apply punitive administrative measures to all LPG operators found filling cylinders without the written authority of brand owners,” the CSs directed.

To improve accountability by players in the sector, the ministries will strengthen the LPG data verification framework.

Further, the ministries will hold nationwide LPG stakeholder workshops to strengthen the policy and regulatory framework in the LPG sector and hold public awareness and sensitization programs to promote LPG safety among the public.