By Peter Ochieng
A state of panic ensued after a lorry carrying a tank of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) exploded in Nairobi’s Pipeline, Embakasi area on Monday afternoon.
Fire fighters arrived at the scene and managed to put the fire off. However, one passerby was reportedly injured and rushed to hospital.
An Embasavva 14-seater matatu and the tanker were consumed by the fire. Over the years, Kenya has witnessed deadly fire incidences caused by explosion of fuel or gas tankers, claiming dozens of lives.
The deadliest one is perhaps an incident that occurred in Molo, Nakuru in 2009, where more 100 people were killed and another 200 injured after an oil tanker overturned.
Hundreds of people had flocked to the overturned tanker to siphon fuel when it exploded, with the fire likely sparked by a cigarette.
“Everybody was screaming and most of them were running with fire on their bodies, they were just running into the bush,” said Charles Kamau, an eye witness.
“Everybody is in shock, with the fire coming as it does just days after the other blast,” he said as he toured the scene in Molo,” added Kalonzo Musyoka, then Vice President.
In 2021, 13 people were killed and many others seriously burned when an overturned petrol tanker exploded in Malanga, Busia County.
In February this year, at least 3 people died while over 250 were injured after an explosion at a Liquefied Petroleum Gas plant in Nairobi’s Embakasi.
Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir and his Interior counterpart Kithure Kindiiki in a joint statement, said the fire wa caused by incorrect refilling of the cylinders.
“Preliminary findings indicate that on the fateful night, the refilling of LPG cylinders was done using direct manifold connections to the LPG tanker increasing the risk of leakage and explosion,” read the statement.
They stated that there was need to strengthen the LPG data verification framework so as to improve accountability by players in the sector.