Baraka Gas Supplies, a wholesale and retail business reported to be operating illegally was on Thursday, 06 February, 2024 raided by the National Government County Security Team and officers from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) at their premises in Rukindu, Tharaka Nithi County.
The multi-agency operation that took 8 hours nabbed a total of 433 gas cylinders registered under various gas companies, with the proprietor of the business still at large even as investigations proceed to determine his whereabouts.
“Today, at around 2.00 Pm the Sub-County Security Team got some information that there is somebody around who is having an illegal gas filling station at his residence. They raided the area and they were able to get 433 assorted cylinders from different companies and other accessories including stickers. They informed us and we liaised with EPRA. We have in custody the spouse to the proprietor of the business who is on the run but investigations are still going on”, County Commissioner David Gitonga said.
The County Commissioner in a press conference after the raid confirmed the business had illegally been refilling gas cylinders in the premises, posing a threat to neighboring residents and premises that include institutions of learning.
“It was assumed that since the owner has been selling gas in retail and wholesale with different outlets in the area, this was just a storage facility, but we can confirm he has been refilling illegally within the premises. Some of the cylinders are in a poor state, against required 8 years in market. Others, who are engaged in similar activities will be arrested since such businesses encourage theft of gas cylinders in the area”, he added.
Silas Cheboi, the Surveillance & Enforcement Manager at EPRA while addressing the media after the operation said Baraka Gas Supplies was using cylinders from brand companies without licenses and operating without the necessary safety requirements.
“This is an illegal refilling exercise, sometimes which can be hard to detect in such environments. This business is extremely dangerous to the people living around the area. As EPRA we give licenses, with license conditions which include safety and all precautions taken to run such a business. Cylinders need to also be validated, returned and tested before being used. Such illegal activities evade these important requirements”, he noted.
The EPRA officer stated that more operations would be carried out within the county to eliminate illegal gas supplying businesses.
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