NAIROBI, Kenya — The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has called for urgent action over a long-running consumer safety case involving a defective LPG cylinder, urging regulators and companies to release key evidence ahead of a looming court deadline.
In a public statement, COFEK appealed to the National Oil Corporation of Kenya, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to address the matter, which dates back to 2016 and involves alleged regulatory failures and delayed justice.
The case centres on Nairobi resident Isaac Irungu, who reportedly suffered severe injuries after a gas explosion in his kitchen.
According to COFEK, the LPG cylinder he had purchased the previous day leaked gas that lacked Ethyl Mercaptan—an odorant legally required to give liquefied petroleum gas its distinctive warning smell.
Without the smell to alert him, Irungu is said to have unknowingly ignited the gas when he struck a match, triggering an explosion.
COFEK says investigations commissioned by EPRA and conducted by SGS Kenya Limited confirmed that the gas had no odorant, pointing to a serious breach of safety standards.
The organisation further alleges that senior officials at National Oil initially acknowledged the incident and discussed compensation, but later redirected the victim to the regulator.
The consumer lobby also criticised APA Insurance, claiming the insurer engaged briefly before going silent, leaving the victim in a prolonged legal struggle.
Nearly a decade later, Irungu is still pursuing justice in court and now faces a critical deadline of May 14, 2026, to produce the SGS inspection report—an essential piece of evidence that COFEK says is being withheld by EPRA.
The lobby group framed the matter as a multi-layered failure involving consumer protection, regulatory accountability, and corporate responsibility. It argues that withholding the report undermines the victim’s right to a fair hearing, as guaranteed under the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
“This is not just an individual case but a broader issue of public safety and accountability,” COFEK said, warning that failure to act could erode confidence in regulatory oversight of petroleum products.
The organisation also referenced previous concerns involving SGS in petroleum oversight matters, calling for transparency in the handling of safety investigations.
COFEK has urged EPRA to immediately release the report to enable the court process to proceed, while calling on National Oil and APA Insurance to resolve the matter and compensate the victim if liability is established.
