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Three gas death traps shut down in Nairobi after ‘Nation’ exposé

By EDWIN OKOTH November 24th, 2016 2 min read

At least three illegal gas filling plants have been closed down in the ongoing crackdown on the unlicensed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling plants in Nairobi and its environs.

Inspectors from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority and Kenya Police took action from Wednesday after Daily Nation exposed the dangerous gas filling plants located in residential areas.

ACA lead inspector Yusuf Osman said the raid also impounded 125 LPG cylinders of different trademarks and a lorry carrying cylinders suspected to have been stolen in one of the Embakasi premises.

“We did not find some places open, and from the information collected from the public, the owners operate in the dead of the night. We are on the lookout for the duo and we are diligently keeping tabs on the illegal gas business in this area. We did not find the other places open. More such raids will significantly reduce the illegal activity which is endangering many lives,” Yusuf said.

ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

ACA raid started at a plant located along Mombasa road, opposite the Total petrol station. In Embakasi where one road has four illegal filling plants, the officers only gained entry into one premise of the illegal activity where they impounded a lorry carrying counterfeit Gas Cylinders.

The inspectors placed a notice of closure on the gates where premises were found closed. Investigations into the owners of the premises are being conducted to identify the individuals carrying out the risky business in estates.

In A Monday expose tittled ‘Cylinder of death,’ Daily Nation documented at least 26 illegal gas filling plants located in eight counties run the business that has seamlessly intertwined with the legal supply chain confusing consumers and undercutting revenue from genuine dealers.

The cartel hijacks trucks transporting LPG cylinders and takes them to their illicit dens for filling before using their channels to release them into the market.

Nairobi has eight such major plants located close to residential homes, painting a picture of time bombs as authorities watch without action. The gas plants are located mainly in Eastlands including near Nyayo Esatate, Donholm and Embakasi.