In Summary:
- Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority officials order evacuation following gas leak at Kitengela police station.
- Matatu tout killed and 21 passengers injured in bus overturning along Jogoo Road, Nairobi.
In a concerning turn of events, officials from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority issued an evacuation order on Sunday after a lorry carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas began leaking within the premises of Kitengela police station.
The incident unfolded following an earlier accident involving the said lorry along the Nairobi-Namanga highway, causing alarm among authorities and nearby residents.
According to police reports, the trailer transporting the Liquefied Petroleum Gas had collided with a Toyota Landcruiser around 2 AM, resulting in injuries to the Landcruiser’s driver.
Following the collision, both vehicles were towed to Kitengela police station. However, while parked at the station, officers noticed the leakage of gas from the lorry, prompting immediate action to safeguard the surrounding area.
Witnesses recounted scenes of panic as officers urged residents within a 500-meter radius to evacuate their homes as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the injured Landcruiser driver was swiftly transported to St. Paul’s Hospital for medical attention, suffering injuries to the head and hands.
However, as per our received reports, Kitengela OCS David Lemayian clarified that the entire incident arose from a misunderstanding, indicating that there was no gas leakage within the station premises. He elaborated that the initial statements regarding a leak were unsubstantiated.
Taking proactive measures, authorities promptly dispatched specialists to validate the claims. “The situation has since been contained, it was just a miscommunication someone thought they smelled gas and raised an alarm,”clarified the OCS. “Experts assessed the situation and revealed that there was nothing to worry about.”
The aftermath of the tragic Embakasi gas explosion, which occurred on the night of Thursday, February 1, 2024, resulting in the loss of three lives and causing injuries to over 220 individuals. [Photo | Courtesy]
In a separate incident along Jogoo Road, Nairobi, tragedy struck when a matatu tout lost his life and 21 passengers sustained injuries as a result of a bus overturning. The accident, involving a Forward Travellers Sacco bus, occurred on Saturday morning as the matatu was en route to the city centre from Donholm.
Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene as the bus attempted an abrupt right turn near Rabai junction, causing it to overturn onto its left side.
Tragically, the conductor was fatally crushed in the accident, while 17 passengers sustained minor injuries and four others suffered serious wounds, necessitating hospitalization.
Authorities have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding both incidents, underlining the critical need for enhanced safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.