In a significant development, the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations announced the arrest of the prime suspect in the Embakasi explosion investigation on Tuesday, February 6th. The incident, which occurred in the night between Thursday and Friday, saw a fire erupt at a liquefied gas storage facility in the eastern suburb of Nairobi, claiming three lives and leaving 280 individuals injured. Multiple arrests have already been made by investigators in connection with the case.
Derrick Kimathi, who leased the liquefied gas storage site, has emerged as the focal point of police inquiries. He is viewed by law enforcement as the primary suspect in the unfolding investigation.
Furthermore, three officials from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) have also been apprehended, suspected of illicitly issuing operating permits for the site despite its location in a residential area. Additionally, five other suspects, including the site director, two truck drivers, and two other NEMA employees, remain at large.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations faces mounting pressure, as the Embakasi incident has escalated into a major scandal that has captured the attention of the political arena. President William Ruto has denounced administrative corruption, while his main opponent, Raila Odinga, has squarely placed blame on the government. Both are demanding justice and compensation for the victims.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority stated on Friday that it had repeatedly rejected requests for the construction of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant at the Embakasi site. Despite this, the East African Oil Institute, representing regional oil and gas companies, notes that the site had seemingly been operating openly.