Live updates from Embakasi gas explosion

8.45 pm - The Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services Harry Kimtai says the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) has activated its blood centres countrywide to send blood promptly to the Nairobi Regional Blood Transfusion Centre for immediate dispatch to affected hospitals.

7.20 pm - Cabinet Secretaries Kithure Kindiki (Interior) and Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum) in a joint statement said the blast was caused by incorrect refilling of the cylinders.

The two disclosed that the gas cylinders were refilled using direct manifold connections to the LPG tanker.

The CSs said their ministries will collaborate with EPRA to prioritise the demolition of all illegal sites through the Multi-Agency Rapid Results Initiative.

The CSs said that the government will also ensure that fresh risk assessment is undertaken for all LPG plants in the country with the view of closing all non-compliant sites.

6.50 pm - Following his visits to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital, DP Gachagua pledges that those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable and urges caution and adherence to the rule of law to prevent similar cases in future.

Gachagua also assures that the government will support the affected families as they come to terms with the tragedy and seek to rebuild their lives.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is pictured with a victim of the gas explosion in Embakasi East's Mradi area in Nairobi County on February 2, 2024. (Photo: DPCS)

5.15 pm - The Interior ministry reports that relevant authorities promptly reacted to the tragedy and are conducting recovery and investigative operations. Additionally, it says, a command centre was set up to streamline communication between victims' families and providers of support services.

5pm - Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announces that victims will be sheltered at the Embakasi Social Hall in Utawala. He says nearly 250 affected families have been identified.

4.20 pm - DP Gachagua visits victims at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua visits survivors of the Embakasi East gas explosion in Nairobi at the Kenyatta University hospital on February 2, 2024. (Photo: DPCS)

3.55 pm - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arrives to visit victims of the tragedy.

3.27 pm - The Ministry of Health announces that the World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilised emergency trauma kits valued at $40,000 to treat 500 people with burns and surgical needs in intensive care units. WHO Kenya Representative Abdourahmane Diallo confirms this during a site visit with Mary Muthoni Muriuki, the principal secretary for public health and professional standards.

WHO Kenya Representative Abdourahmane Diallo and Mary Muthoni Muriuki, the principal secretary for public health and professional standards, at the site of a gas explosion in Mradi, Embakasi, on February 3, 2024. (Photo: X/ Ministry of Health)

2.05 pm - The Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) says the explosion occurred on an illegal LPG refilling and storage site located in a densely populated area. PIEA says the site of the explosion is the same one over which a criminal case was filed on November 9, 2020. Despite the case in which all the accused were found guilty, operations continued without adherence to minimum safety standards, in violation of laws.

1.53 pm - Members of the diplomatic community express their condolences to Nairobi following the gas explosion in Embakasi.

1.50 pm - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to visit the Embakasi fire site in Mradi Area, Embakasi, Nairobi County and victims of the fire at Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital on Friday afternoon.

1.45 pm - In response to the Embakasi fire incident, the Ministry of Health through the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) says it has put in place mechanisms to address the blood and blood needs of the victims of the incident.

12.33 am - Kenya Red Cross sets up a tracing desk as it helps in the search and rescue efforts from the Embakasi fire tragedy. The organisation says it has successfully reunited 21 children with their parents.

A Kenya Red Cross information desks set up to help victims and their families. (Photo: Kenya Red Cross)

11.50 am - Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) releases statement on Embakasi gas explosion says the LPG storage and filling company was denied an operating licence as they had not met the necessary criteria and thus was operating illegally.

11.42 am - Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja says 167 victims have been admitted at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital. Says 143 have been treated and discharged.

A woman looks from a balcony at the heavily damaged houses and shops, a day after a gas explosion in the Embakasi area of Nairobi, on February 2, 2024. (Photo: Luis TATO/AFP)

11.40 am - Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura Mwaura confirms the arrest of a watchman over the Embakasi gas explosion.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura addressing the press at Embakasi in Nairobi on February 2, 2024. (Photo: Mary Wambui)

11.39 am - Mwaura says the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) will probe the owners of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage and filling plant over the incident following claims that the company was operating at the site illegally.

11.34 am - Mwaura says counselling is being offered to the victims of the explosion and urges Kenyans to report any missing relatives.

A responder gives medical attention to a person with burn injuries at the scene following a series of explosions in the Embakasi area of Nairobi on February 2, 2024. (Photo: Luis TATO/AFP)

11.33 am - Affected families are currently being hosted at the Kenya School of Aviation and the government is seeking support for their rent.

11.30 am - Mwaura says a probe is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura at the scene of the Embakasi gas explosion in Nairobi on February 2, 2024. (Photo: Mary Wambui)

11.29 am - Government Spokesperson says a command centre has been set up to coordinate rescue efforts.

10.55 am - Mwaura confirms 280 people have so far been injured from the explosion. He says nine families who have been left homeless will be given accommodation by the government. The spokesperson says the Red Cross and MSF already distributing non-food items and taking victims to hospital as the government calls on more well wishes to render support to the victims.

10.05 am - Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of the Kenya Police Service Douglas Kanja confirms at least three people were killed in the gas explosion.

Firemen fight a blaze following a series of explosions in the Embakasi area of Nairobi, Kenya on February 2, 2024. (Photo: Luis TATO/AFP)

7.27 am - The government confirms two Kenyans lost their lives while being attended to at the Nairobi West Hospital as a result of the explosion.

7.27 am - The government says 222 Kenyans were injured in the fire. State gives the breakdown of the hospital admissions as follows; 160 at Mama Lucy General Hospital, 21 at the Kenyatta National Hospital, 19 at Mbagathi Hospital, 14 at Modern Komarock Hospital, and eight at Nairobi West Hospital.

12.50 am - Government issues first statement on the Embakasi gas explosion in Embakasi, Nairobi. The statement says an LPG company was refilling gas cylinders when a fire broke out. State says several people were injured and rushed to hospital.

11.30 pm - LPG explosion reported at Mradi Area in Embakasi, Nairobi County.