The death toll in the Embakasi gas explosion tragedy has risen to six as three more victims succumbed to their burns while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
In a statement, a government spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, says dozens of other victims remain hospitalized with serious burns in various medical facilities across the city, including at least 20 individuals referred to KNH due to the severity of their injuries.
“We regret to report that three more individuals have succumbed to their injuries raising the death toll from the Embakasi Fire incident to six,” he said.
Most victims are admitted to KNH, Mama Lucy Hospital, and Mbagathi Hospitals.
This is as detectives from the Nairobi County police headquarters are pursuing seven suspects connected to the explosion.
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The suspects include Derick Kimathi, the proprietor of the illegal gas filling plant, and Steve Kioko, Kimathi’s partner.
Others include the driver of the truck that is suspected to have caused the explosion, whom they are yet to confirm whether he escaped or was among the casualties.
Four National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA )officials were suspended for allegedly issuing a license illegally to Kimathi’s company.
But even though police claim that the suspect has gone into hiding, Kimathi, through his lawyer Wandugi Kirathe, has denied claims, saying he has been cooperating with police officers investigating the matter.
“It is important to note that our client is not in hiding, he is available, he is within the public and has been in touch with sections of the police,” he said.
Further, Kimathi denies reports that the site where the incident occurred was an illegal gas plant stating that for years it was a garage.
However, what is not clear is why the garage specialized in repairing only trucks transporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
