Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-15 14:12:52
The owner of the ill-fated gas tanker that exploded at a refilling plant in Nairobi, leaving 10 people dead and 600 others injured, has been detained for two weeks. Abraham Mwangi Nguyo, the owner of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Mercedes Benz tanker that exploded at the Maxxis Energy Nairobi Limited premises, will be held at Capitol Hill police cells. He had been on the run since the fateful night of February 1 and wee hours of February 2, 2024, but he was arrested on Monday after presenting himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Embakasi.
While he was in hiding, Nguyo’s lawyer filed a case at the High Court seeking orders requiring him to present himself willingly to the DCI officers 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.
The aftermath of the explosion was tragic, with the DCI investigating cases of murder, negligent act causing harm, and abuse of office in contravention of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
In an affidavit filed before Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Nanzushi of the Milimani Law Courts, Inspector Isaac Kariuki – a DCI officer attached at Embakasi – stated that the identification of the people who perished at the scene and in hospitals is ongoing and recording of statements of survivors is yet to start. He noted that more than 300 victims are still undergoing treatment in critical conditions at various hospitals in Nairobi and its environs and others at their homes.
Multiple wreckages of vehicles and LPG refilling plant equipment that were involved in the explosion have not been identified due to the complete damage caused by the incident. Properties in and around the company’s premises were also burnt and completely destroyed.
Information from Nguyo and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) points to an expanded investigation spanning to Tanzania, in tracing the source of the disaster-causing LPG, evident from information obtained from the KRA’s LPG clearance made at the Oloitoktok border point on January 25, 2024, about five days before the tragedy occurred.
The matter will be mentioned on February 28, 2024, when the court will give directions on the matter after the conclusion of the investigation. The case will be combined with that of the owner of Maxxis Energy Nairobi Limited, Derrick Kimathi, who was arraigned alongside three National Environment Management Authority (Nema) officials Joseph Makau, David Warunya On’gare, and Marrian Mutete Kioko. These individuals were presented before Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego on February 6, 2024.
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