Embakasi explosion probe: NEMA suspends 4 officials for illegally issuing licence

The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has suspended four senior officials on suspicion of unprocedural issuance of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence to the Embakasi Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) gas plant where an explosion occurred on Thursday night.

In a statement issued on Saturday, NEMA Board of Management Chairperson Emilio Mugo stated that a probe into how the plant was allowed to operate despite being denied a licence by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) revealed that the four officials were culpable.

The four include the Director of Environmental Compliance, Acting Deputy Director of Compliance, Senior Environmental Officer, and the Head of Environmental Impact Assessment.

“After a thorough assessment of the licensing procedure and processes the Board of Management has noted with great concern some serious gaps in the issuance of the licence to the LPG plant in question,” stated Mr. Mugo.

“Further, preliminary investigation has revealed that four NEMA officers unprocedurally processed the licence and are therefore culpable. The Board therefore directs that the implicated officers step aside immediately pending further investigation by the relevant government agencies.”

Mr. Mugo said the four officials allegedly colluded with the proprietors of Derdols Petroleum Limited operating under the business name of Maxxis Nairobi Energy to bypass the processes despite other government agencies declining to give clearance.

“On 2nd February 2023, a record of decision was made to issue the proposed project with an EIA licence No. NEMA/EIA/PSL/23819. The licence was issued with mandatory EIA licence conditions for the project proponent to comply prior to the commencement of the construction works of the LPG plant/facility,” he added.

The suspended officers are expected to be questioned by detectives handling the probe into the explosion that killed three people and left at least 280 others injured.

While calling upon investigations into the incident, the NEMA boss said the State authority is ready to comply with the multi-agency teams investigating the matter.

"The Board further requests the relevant government agencies to commence immediate investigation. The National Environment Management Authority's Management is also hereby directed to cooperate with the already established multi-agency teams handling the incident," he stated.

The directive comes amid calls by the government and leaders to have the liable ministry officials prosecuted over the tragic incident.

This as President William Ruto on Staurday directed the Ministry of Energy to take action against government officials involved in issuing licence for the gas refilling company involved in the explosion.