“Government officials issued licences for gas installations in residential areas when it was very clear that it was the wrong thing to do, but because of incompetence and corruption they issued licenses,” he said.

Ruto said they should be sacked and “prosecuted for the crimes they have committed”.

The National Environment Authority (Nema) echoed Ruto.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that four Nema officers unprocedurally processed the licence and are, therefore, culpable,” Nema board chairman Emilio Mugo said today.

“The board, therefore, directs that the implicated officers step aside immediately pending further investigation by the relevant government agencies,” he said.

A truck laden with gas canisters exploded just before midnight on Thursday in Embakasi, a densely populated Nairobi district, unleashing a trail of destruction and sending people running for their lives.