One year of pain: Mradi explosion survivors still nursing wounds

It has been one year since the night of February 1, 2024, when the Mradi area of Embakasi, Nairobi, was engulfed in thick smoke, leaving several residents with lifelong scars.

What began as an ordinary evening quickly turned into a nightmare for residents, as a gas explosion ripped through the neighbourhood, leaving death, destruction, and lifelong scars in its wake.

The incident, which claimed at least 10 lives (though residents insist the number was higher) and injured hundreds, remains etched in the memories of survivors, who continue to grapple with its physical, emotional, and financial toll.

For the victims, the scars of that night are not just skin-deep. They are a constant reminder of a tragedy that upended their lives, leaving them to navigate a path of pain, loss, and unanswered questions.

A year later, victims continue to live in limbo. Many remain jobless, unable to afford medical treatment, and deeply traumatised. The government’s silence and the slow pace of justice have only deepened their anguish, with the victims feeling abandoned.

Usual routines

The incident, which struck at around 11 pm found the residents of Mradi going about their usual routines. Some were preparing for bed, others were closing their businesses, and children were settling in for the night.

But the tranquillity was shattered when a gas leak ignited, triggering a massive explosion that lit up the night sky, or as one of the victims puts it, “we saw the day at night.”

Jacklin Karimi still bears the wounds, both visible and invisible, from that fateful night. The burns on her hands serve as a constant reminder of the terror she experienced.

“A neighbour came and knocked on my door, telling me to get out and run. I was in my nightdress, ready to sleep. On getting out, I heard a loud blast. I didn’t know at first it was gas. We ran, not knowing it was something serious. In the process, there was another blast, and when running, I fell down. It’s only then that I realised I had burns on my hand and my dress,” she told The Standard.

Karimi managed to make it to a local dispensary with others who had also suffered burns. But amidst the chaos, she witnessed firsthand the tragedy unfolding around her.

“There was a lady next to me, badly burned. I was trying to encourage her, telling her she would be okay. Then she suddenly said she was dying, and she did. We had been running together, but she must have fallen, and the flames caught up with her,” says Karimi.

Her story is one of many that paint a harrowing picture of that night.

Lydiah Wanja, a hotel owner, was at her business when the explosion occurred.

“I was told there was a gas leakage. I went back, told the customers, disconnected the power, and closed the hotel. When running, there was a car parked right where the gas leak was happening. We told the driver not to start it, but he ignored us. The moment he turned the ignition, everything went up in flames, and that marked the beginning of our trouble to date,” she says, struggling with emotions.

The force of the explosion threw her several metres away. The invisible gas flames engulfed her body, burning her back, hands, and legs.

“I didn’t even realise I was burned at first. It was people who told me. I was rushed to Mama Lucy Hospital, and that is when I saw how bad it was. I was completely unable to move for six months. I had to rely on others for everything. I couldn’t walk, couldn’t do anything on my own,” she says.

For Serah Moraa, the pain is twofold: her own suffering and that of her four-year-old son, who was burned during their escape from the fire, and is still undergoing treatment to date, a reality that she struggles to live with.

“We ran from the house to avoid being burned inside, but we got burned in the process,” she says.

Both mother and child sustained severe burns. While Moraa suffered wounds on her hands, legs, and neck, her son’s injuries were even worse. Her son missed an entire year of school due to his injuries.

“He is terrified of fire now. He fears playing with other children because of his wounds. As a mother, it breaks my heart, but there is nothing I can do.”

The explosion not only caused physical injuries but also left deep emotional and financial scars. Many victims lost their livelihoods, homes, and sense of security.

Karimi lost her job after the incident and struggles to make ends meet. “Life has never been the same. I am struggling to get food, pay school fees, afford rent, or even support my 11-year-old daughter. The government has been so quiet since the incident. We got little support then, and nobody has been concerned about our welfare thereafter,” she says.

She still visits the hospital for wound treatment, a costly necessity that she can barely afford. Her daughter is emotionally affected, constantly worried about her mother’s health.

“My child asks, ‘What would have happened if you had died that day?’ She is always sad, always hoping I will get better so I can help her more,” says Karimi.

Lydiah Wanja echoes the sentiments of Karimi.

“Everything I owned burnt down. My life took an abrupt turn. I am now jobless and dependent on others, which is very embarrassing. The government should help us. They think we all got well, but that is not the case. We are still suffering,” she says.

Now, she faces an uncertain future. She lost more than Sh1 million when her business was destroyed. Her hands remain incapacitated, making it impossible for her to work.

“I go to the hospital on Monday and Friday. Each visit costs me at least Sh500. But where do I get that money now?” asks Wanja.

Refiling plant

Her two sons, once fully dependent on her, were forced to find alternative ways to survive.

Fred Juma, a resident of Mradi, points out the government’s failure to address the root causes of the tragedy.

“We lived here but never knew we were close to a gas refilling plant. The government should alert people about such risks. The State failed in its duty to protect its citizens,” he says.

While the government’s initial response included dispatching emergency services and providing some relief supplies, many victims feel abandoned in the long term.

Bramwel Simiyu, the chief officer of disaster management in Nairobi County, recounts the immediate response, just a few minutes after the incident occurred.

“We received the distress call a little after 11 p.m. and activated our emergency protocols. We dispatched fire engines from multiple stations and called for additional support from the Kenya Airports Authority and the military. Our priority was to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings,” he says.

Despite their efforts, the damage was already extensive.

“This was not a normal fire. LPG fires spread fast. By the time we arrived, there was little we could do except contain it,” he says.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said he has done his part, spending Sh6 million of his personal money to help victims. He also filed a civil suit demanding compensation for those affected.

“We filed a civil suit to ensure victims are compensated. The case is coming up this month for further directions. I am hopeful that justice will be served, but the process has been slow,” he says.

However, many victims feel abandoned. They accuse the government of neglect and failing to expedite the case. He estimates that around 686 people were affected, with many still suffering from burns, trauma, and financial ruin.

Following the tragedy, former Embakasi East MP Francis Mureithi took legal action against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration, seeking compensation for victims of the incident.

In a petition filed at the Milimani High Court, Mureithi argued that by licensing Maxxis Nairobi Energy, the Nairobi Environment Management Authority neglected its statutory duty to protect the public, particularly the residents of Mradi area.

Court documents reveal that Maxxis Nairobi Energy was registered as a business on April 29, 2020, with its primary operation being a mini-LPG storage and filling plant.

On December 9, 2024, the court charged Derrick Kimathi Nyamu and Stephen Kilonzo Mutie, along with others, with manslaughter for their role in the deaths of the victims.

According to the charge sheet, the two face ten counts related to the deaths from the tragedy. They also face an additional charge of operating a bulk LPG storage facility without a valid license from EPRA, in violation of Section 74 of the Petroleum Act (2019).

The case continues in court, with no clear timeline for compensation.