Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja addressing the audience at the Customer Service Centre, City Hall Annex, on January 3, 2024. IMAGE |COURTESY
In Summary:
1) Governor Sakaja demands that the gas plant owner compensate victims, with Nairobi covering medical fees.
2) Sakaja asserts readiness for emergencies and orders a crackdown on illegal gas businesses.
3) Odinga criticizes urban planning and calls for victim compensation.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasizes that the gas plant owner must compensate victims of the tragic explosion.
‘The county will also compensate the victims with something small, and the owner of that place must compensate the victims because he committed an offence. He is a rich man, he has other similar businesses,’ Sakaja said during a Radio Jambo interview.
Sakaja reaffirms, “All the victims being attended to at county hospitals in Nairobi are treated for free, and those in other hospitals will receive our help. We have spoken with other leaders including Health CS, and they have agreed to leave that to us.”
The call for action follows the arraignment of four suspects, including the plant owner, Derrick Kimathi, and three NEMA officials. Sakaja vows to hold the owner accountable.
Governor Sakaja assures, “My administration is well prepared to respond to fire incidences and other emergency issues.”
On Tuesday, Sakaja visited the victims and ordered a crackdown on illegal gas businesses across the county.
Opposition Leader Raila Odinga blames poor urban planning for the incident. He demands government compensation of Sh500,000 per victim to aid recovery efforts and support their families.
In the wake of the tragedy, authorities must ensure accountability and support for the victims.