Written by Cyrus Kimanga | |
Two traders were produced in court over allegations of using the fake licenses.
The two were charged with trading and dealing with LPG cylinders of another licensee for gain without the said licensee’s prior written consent. The crime is contrary to section 99 of the Petroleum Act 2019.
Particulars of the offense are, Kenneth Kibaki Njeru and Geoffrey Ebrahim Macharia Kieru, who were on 18th December 2021 at pipeline within Nairobi found in possession of assorted LPG cylinders without a valid license. The two were using motor vehicle registration number KDA 021 Z.
They denied the charges before Milimani Law Courts and were each released on a Cash Bail of Ksh 30,000 without an alternative Bond term. They will again appear before the Court on 2nd February 2022 for a plea trial.
On 5th July 2021, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) issued a warning on illegal cooking gas companies operating in Nairobi.
However, five months after the warning, the market continues to register traders operating using fake licenses.
Selling sub-standard liquefied gas cylinders has cost the country innocent lives.
For instance; in April 2020, Singer Ruth Matete’s husband became a casualty of a faulty cooking gas product when he passed away following a gas explosion at their house.
Beloved John Apewajoye (Matete’s husband), passed away after succumbing to burn injuries sustained after a gas explosion. According to an autopsy report, the explosion damaged most of his internal organs after which he spent several weeks in ICU before his death.
It is therefore the responsibility of the Law Enforcement officers together with EPRA to curb the situation of fake licenses in the Kenyan market and ensure the culprits are brought to book and sentenced accordingly to serve a deterrence effect.
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