Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has said that survivors of the Thursday night gas explosion at an unlicensed cooking gas filling plant in Embakasi Nairobi will receive at least Ksh5,000 as aid.

Speaking when she visited one of the hospitals where the victims are receiving medical attention, the lawmaker noted that the money will enable the victims to get essentials in this time of need.

"We are giving them Ksh5,000 each because we know that tonight they will need a place to sleep as well as food," Passaris said during her visit to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Further, the lawmaker noted that the patient's medical bills have been waivered following an earlier directive by the Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja adding that the county has stocked medicine needed by the explosion victims.

"We got a quick response from friends and we were able to buy medication and we realised that we need to help the hospital stock up. We have bought medicine of about Ksh400,000 which are on their way coming here to stock the hospital and there will be others coming in." 

Notably, the gas blast was caused after a truck carrying gas blew up at about half past eleven at night before igniting a huge ball of fire that spread widely.

At least two people have so far been confirmed dead and over 300 injured with a possibility of the number going up.

Neighbouring residential buildings, businesses and cars were also damaged in the blast and subsequent inferno.