Two businessmen, Derrick Kimathi Nyamu and Stephen Kilonzo Muite, have been charged with manslaughter following the deadly gas explosion that occurred in Embakasi, Nairobi, on the night of February 1, 2024.
The explosion, which tore through Maxxis Energy Nairobi Ltd, a gas plant located in Mradi Estate, left 10 people dead and over 300 others injured.
Appearing before Milimani Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe on Monday morning, Kimathi and Muite faced 11 criminal charges, including 10 counts of manslaughter, for allegedly causing the deaths of 10 people.
They are accused of causing the deaths of 10 individuals, including Evans Oduor, Martin Simiyu Walumbi, Vallary Nyandiko, and Charles Macharia, through unlawful acts.
The two men, who were suspected of owning the facility, denied all charges and pleaded not guilty.
In addition to the manslaughter charges, Kimathi and Muite are accused of operating a bulk LPG storage facility at the site without the required license from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
They are also charged with causing harm to over 250 people, many of whom sustained serious injuries and burns.
“The explosion occurred as a result of unsafe practices at the facility,” said a prosecutor in court. “The accused were operating an unlicensed LPG plant, putting lives at risk by failing to follow the safety protocols that could have prevented this tragedy.”
The court was told that Kimathi and Muite were engaged in running the illegal facility in partnership with other individuals who are not currently before the court.
Investigators believe that the explosion was triggered by a leak within the facility, which had not undergone the necessary safety inspections and lacked the required certification from EPRA.
“The facility was operating without the necessary safety checks, and it was only a matter of time before something disastrous happened,” a police investigator involved in the case said.
“The blast could have been avoided if safety regulations had been followed.”
The court granted them a cash bail of Ksh. 1 million each, with two sureties required.
