Raila demands Sh500,000 for each Embakasi gas explosion victim

ODM leader Raila Odinga meets with victims of the Embakasi gas explosion at a Social Hall where they've been putting up since the tragedy that had seven people perish. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has demanded that the government compensate each family affected by the Embakasi gas explosion with Sh500,000, calling it a case of "pure negligence".

Raila made the remarks on Tuesday, February 6, after visiting the Mradi area in Embakasi, where a gas plant exploded last week, killing six people and injuring more than 300 others.

He also accused the government of poor planning and endangering the lives of residents by allowing the gas plant to operate in a residential area.

"Nairobi is mourning its dead and treating hundreds of injuries because the city ignored planning and allowed a gas plant where none was supposed to be. Those culpable for this incident should have already faced action. Investigations should not take more than 48 hours," he said.

Raila urged the Kenya Kwanza leadership to resettle the affected families in the affordable housing project that has been completed in the area.

He was accompanied by several opposition MPs and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who donated Sh1m to the victims.

Five suspects linked to the Mradi area gas inferno are still at large as detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) continue to narrow down on investigations.

Sleuths at DCI have already arrested Derrick Kimathi, the prime suspect who police say had rented the site of the deadly blast.

Among those being sought include; the site manager Stephen Kilonzo, Ann Kabiri Mirungi of NEMA, Lynette Cheruyoit who is NEMA's Senior Environmental Officer, truck driver Robert Gitau, and Abraham Mwangi who is a driver.

DCI is asking Kenyans who have any information on their whereabouts to report them by calling their toll-free hotline 0800722203 or report at any police station.