Owner of killer Mradi gas plant detained for 14 days
By Gidraph Mwangi, February 16, 2024
The owner of the gas tanker that exploded at a factory in Mradi area of Embakasi, Nairobi killing 10 people and injuring over 300 others will be detained at the Capitol Hill police station for 14 days pending investigations of the incident.
Abraham Mwangi Nguyo had been on the run since the incident occurred on the night of February 1 and February 2 before he was arrested on Monday after presenting himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Embakasi.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had gone to the high court seeking orders requiring Nguyo to present himself willingly to the officers of the DCI for interrogation.
He is detained on suspicion of having committed offences of murder and acts of negligence leading to deaths and harm to the victims of the inferno.
Delivered at premises
Nguyo owns the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker – KBJ 185X -/ZD2234, a Mercedes Benz that was delivering gas at the premises of the Maxxis Energy Nairobi Limited, which exploded causing the tragedy.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating cases of murder, negligent act causing harm contrary to section 244 of the Penal Code and abuse of office in contravention of Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
In an affidavit filed before Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Nanzushi of the Milimani Law Courts, Inspector Isaac Kariuki DCI officer attached at Embakasi said the identification of the people who perished in the tragedy and in hospitals is ongoing and recording of statements of survivors is yet to start.
“The identification of deceased persons is ongoing and some postmortems have been done but not completed.
“Further, some bodies were burnt beyond physical recognition necessitating DNA analysis which is yet to be done,” inspector Kariuki stated in an affidavit filed at the court.
He also stated that there is likelihood of more bodies to be recovered from the debris and more victims are still turning out to report and record their statements.
He added that more than 300 victims are still undergoing treatment in critical conditions at different hospitals in Nairobi and its environs and others at their homes.