The Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) has issued statement revealing fresh details about the Embakasi gas plant that exploded on the morning of Friday, February 2, 2024.

In their statement, PIEA noted that the firm owner and clients who distributed his product were convicted of a criminal case on November 9, 2020.

The case was filed at the Milimani Law courts in Nairobi and all the accused persons were found guilty and convicted with a sentence issued on 18th May 2023.

"Despite guidance from the High Court on the mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison or a penalty of Ksh10,000,000 the learned Magistrate Court Number 11 imposed total fines of Ksh500,000 or a one-year imprisonment instead of Ksh20 million or 5 years for the proprietor (first accused) and a fine of Ksh50,000 for the second accused instead of a fine of Ksh10,000,000 or 5 years.

"The learned magistrate continued to release all motor vehicles continued to release all motor vehicles including two LPG tankers together with the confiscated LPG bulk with a net weight of 4,660 kgs despite the law providing for mandatory forfeiture. One of the LPG tankers unprocedurally released by the courts was registration number ZC 1286 which is one of the tankers involved in this incident," the statement read in parts.

PIEA underscored that despite the convictions, the plant continued operating illegally without the minimum safety standards and qualified LPG personnel as required by the law.

"Despite the above actions and convictions, the proprietor continued operating the illegal storage and refilling facility without even the bare minimum safety standards and qualified LPG personnel as required by law leading to this unfortunate catastrophe which could have been avoided should the letter and spirit of the law have been followed," they added.

Following the unfortunate incident, the agency cautioned members of the public against buying LPG cylinders from distributors and retailers without a receipt.

"We wish to caution the public from purchasing their LPG cylinders from distributors and retailers who do not issue them with a receipt that should as a minimum contain, the date of purchase, names and contacts of the retailer, LPG brand name and cylinder serial number," they added.

The agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring that such incidents do not recur.

"PIEA will continue to share intelligence with EPRA and other regulators for their action to prevent incidences such as the from recurring and particularly the needless loss of life due to the unwillingness to fully enforce the law," the statement added.