One dead, 59 injured after gas leak at Athi River steel factory

A routine scrap-metal operation at a steel factory in Athi River turned deadly on Thursday after a gas cylinder began releasing fumes as workers cut into it.

One worker died and 59 others were injured after they were exposed to the gas at a steel manufacturing company along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Police said about 60 workers were taken to hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties and choking. Most were treated and discharged, while some remained under medical observation.

The incident happened at about 4pm on Thursday, September 24, after a trailer carrying about 41 bulk gas cylinders arrived at the factory.

The cylinders had reportedly been brought in as scrap.

Cylinder released gas during cutting

According to the police account, the trailer arrived at about 2pm.

About two hours later, a gas cutter began working on one of the cylinders.

The cylinder immediately started releasing gas.

The fumes spread through the workplace, affecting workers who complained of breathing difficulties.

“It was reported by an official from the said factory that a gas cylinder had emitted some fumes which led to some of the employees being choked,” police said in a report on the incident.

The affected workers were rushed to hospital for treatment.

One of them later died.

The exact identity of the deceased and the substance released from the cylinder had not been publicly confirmed by authorities by Friday.

A separate report identified the deceased as a 49-year-old worker, but police had not publicly provided enough detail to independently establish the identity.

What investigators are examining

The incident raises immediate questions about how the cylinders were assessed and handled before workers began cutting them.

It is not yet clear whether the cylinders were checked for residual gas before being sent for scrap processing, or what safety procedures were in place before the cutting began.

Those questions are now part of the investigation.

Officers from Athi River Police Station responded to the scene together with Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers and scene-of-crime personnel.

The area was documented and secured for further examination.

Occupational safety officials were also contacted to assess the site and advise on additional safety measures.

DCI detectives based at Athi River, led by Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer Michael Boiyo, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

No arrests or charges had been announced by Friday.

Factory safety under scrutiny

The incident puts renewed attention on the risks involved when industrial facilities handle cylinders and other containers that may still contain hazardous substances.

A cylinder that appears empty can still present a danger if it contains residual gas or vapour. Determining whether the cylinders were properly cleared before cutting will therefore be important to the investigation.

However, it would be premature to assign responsibility before investigators complete their assessment.

The authorities will also need to establish whether the factory's procedures complied with occupational safety requirements and whether the scrap consignment was appropriately inspected before processing.

For the workers and their families, the immediate concern is the health of those exposed.

The majority were reportedly treated and discharged, while the remaining patients were kept under observation.

The factory remained under investigation as detectives and safety officials worked to establish exactly what happened and how the gas was released.

The incident is also likely to put a spotlight on the handling of industrial scrap in Athi River, an area with a large concentration of manufacturing and processing businesses.

For now, investigators are trying to answer a basic but critical question: How did a cylinder brought in as scrap still contain enough gas to expose dozens of workers?

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.