The World Briefly
February 08, 2024Crime and Punishment
Kenya
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Four suspects appeared before a Kenyan court this week over a gas explosion that killed six people and injured nearly 300 in the capital Nairobi last week, the BBC reported.
The individuals included three officials of the country’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the main suspect, Derrick Kimathi, whom authorities accused of illegally operating the gas depot where the explosion erupted.
The charges against the individuals include murder, abuse of office and negligence.
The blast took place last Thursday when a truck carrying gas cylinders blew up in a densely populated area of Nairobi. Homes and businesses were also damaged in the explosion.
Following the blast, President William Ruto ordered the detention and prosecution of government officials who allowed the plant to illegally operate in the area.
Kimathi denied operating an illegal plant, while his lawyer countered that the vehicle that caused the explosion “was trespassing into his property without his knowledge and consent.”
Police are also searching for five more suspects, including two NEMA employees.
There have been growing public demands for accountability, while government agencies have been blaming each other over what led to the blast.
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