The president criticized the government officials who were willing to accept bribes and put the lives of ordinary Kenyans at risk.
“I have told the ministry responsible that all those who were involved in issuing the license where it was not appropriate should leave work now and be taken to court. These people know that they were told they will not be given the license. But because of corruption and dishonesty, they were issued with a license, [and] they went ahead to operate,” Ruto was quoted as saying.
Four officials have already been suspended by the National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) for their alleged direct involvement in the gas storage and refilling plant's license issuing, which led to the disaster, the governmental body said on X.
“After [a] thorough assessment of the licensing procedure and processes, the [authority] has noted with great concern some serious gaps in the issuance of the license to the LPG plant in question,” read the statement by the NEMA.
On Thursday, a major gas explosion occurred in the Embakasi area of Nairobi, when a truck carrying gas exploded in its parking yard near a residential area, killing three people and injuring about 300 others.
The owner of the property where the fire started denied responsibility for the incident, saying that the property was being used as a garage at the time of the explosion and not as a gas filling facility as had been reported.