HAZARD: Italian Restaurant Trattoria Pauses Danger To Many In CBD With Illegal Gas Plant

A businesswoman has written to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over the refusal by county officials to remove illegally installed water tanks, smoke extractor and gas cylinder at a popular restaurant.

Joanina Wanjiku Maina, the landlady of the building that houses Trattoria Restaurant pointed out in a letter to Sakaja that the High Court quashed approval granted to the restaurant to install the items including a cold storage.

She said through her lawyer Kethi Kilonzo that the LPG Gas has blocked the fire exit, posing risk to other tenants at Town House building.

“We urge you to guide your officers in charge of Public health to protect the public, the county’s main commercial District, your personal physical well-being and the rule of law,” lawyer Kethi told Governor Sakaja on the letter.

Despite the High Court decision, Sakaja’s administration has refused to enforce the removal of the offending installations and has instead prosecuted the landlady with the view of intimidating her.

“The 1000kg LPG gas cylinder on the fire the exit, and the wall constructed blocking the fire exit is not only a danger to the environs but also a danger to you and the county government officials who sits within impact distance, God forbid should the LPG cylinder explode,” says businesswoman Maina through lawyer Kethi.

The proprietor of City’s Trattoria Restaurant is facing contempt charges alongside the Nairobi county executive officer in charge of health over failure to obey a court order issued five years ago.

Maina is the owner of the building located at Central Business District, which is land reference No. 209/2362, Town house, and which has been subject to litigation from High Court to the Supreme Court between the owner of the building and Trattoria Restaurant owner Gaetano Ruffo.

The litigation stemmed from the move by county government to approve for placement of items on the fire exit and assembly points of the buildings, including a 1000kg LPG cylinder, that pause a continuing danger to public health.

The county continue to fail to enforce the removal of LPG cylinder despite a disaster that happened in Embakasi the other day.