Usiku kama mchana! Actress Gloria Moraa describes her horrifying experience of the gas explosion in Embakasi

It was a night of terror in Embakasi, a suburb of Nairobi, as explosions rocked a gas-filling plant around midnight on February 1, 2024. The plant is situated in a densely populated residential area, including informal settlements and adjacent to Nyayo Estate.

Various residents near the explosion site have been sharing their harrowing experiences, including renowned actress Gloria Moraa, known for her role in the long-running local television show, Tahidi High.

According to Moraa, the magnitude of the explosion and the sounds emitted made her initially think it was the second coming of Christ. She recounted the chaos as people ran in panic, with women, men, and children of all ages trying to reach safety. The night appeared to turn into day, creating a traumatic scene.

“We are running all over trying to call each other; it was helter-skelter. Women, men, kids of all ages from 0… it was traumatizing. My feet are still shaking from the ordeal. The pain of seeing women holding babies, some without clothes, others in vests only, was something else. I haven’t slept a wink. Others slept outside. May God be with the affected families. It is sad,” Moraa narrated.

According to the Government Spokesperson, the explosion resulted from a gas tank on an unregistered lorry igniting and exploding. A flying gas cylinder fell into a go-down dealing in garments and textiles, causing a massive fireball. The inferno damaged numerous vehicles, commercial properties, and residential houses in the vicinity. Regrettably, two individuals lost their lives while being attended to at Nairobi West Hospital, and 222 others sustained injuries and were rushed to various hospitals.

The explosion is reportedly linked to an alleged illegal gas refilling plant located at the site of the tragedy.