- Two motor vehicles were also impounded during the multi-agency operation.
- Police alleged that the gas filling station is illegal.
Four people were on Wednesday arrested and cylinders seized at a gas refilling station in Mwala, Machakos county.
Police alleged that the gas filling station is illegal. Some of the seized gas cylinders were empty.
Two motor vehicles were also impounded during the multi-agency operation at a home in Kyethei village in Masii, Mwala subcounty on Wednesday.
Officers from the area subcounty security and intelligence committee and those from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) took part in the swoop, Mwala subcounty police commander Nancy Jerobon said.
"Acting on intelligence report, a multiagency team comprising of Subcounty Security and Intelligence Committee members and EPRA police conducted a crackdown against illegal gas refill establishments," Jerobon told the Star on Wednesday.
"The team raided the home in Kyethei village where we found an assortment of refilled and empty gas cylinders from different companies.”
Jerobon said an Isuzu canter and a gas tanker were also found in the suspect’s compound during the raid.
“Four workers were found in the compound; they were all arrested,” Jerobon said.
She said security officers were assigned to guard the compound as the team visited a gas outlet within Masii market operated by the same suspect for inspection.
The government in February issued six directives to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dealers across the country following an explosion at an unlicensed cooking gas filling plant in Mradi are in Embakasi, Nairobi county.
In a joint press statement by the Energy CS Davis Chirchir and his Interior counterpart Kithure Kindiki, the government ordered a nationwide crackdown to ensure compliance.
The two ministries have since been collaborating with EPRA to enforce the directives.
"To sustain compliance efforts, the government will prioritise demolition of all illegal sites through the Multi-Agency Rapid Results Initiatives and ensure that fresh risk assessment is undertaken for all LPG plants in the country with the view of closing all non-compliant sites," the statement read in part.
The ministers stated that there would be an immediate rollout of government LPG growth which includes the development and implementation of a track and trace framework for LPG cylinders to improve traceability and accountability.
"Apply punitive administrative measures to all LPG operators found filling cylinders without the written authority of brand owners," the CSs directed.
To improve accountability by players in the sector, the ministries strengthened the LPG data verification framework.
The ministries also held nationwide LPG stakeholder workshops to strengthen the policy and regulatory framework in the LPG sector as well as public awareness and sensitisation programmes to promote LPG safety among the public.