Kenyans rush to Siphon Fuel After Tanker Overturns

Locals who raced to siphon petrol after a tanker derailed in Kamandura early on Saturday morning have been dispersed by police in Limuru, Kiambu County.

According to detectives speaking to Citizen Digital, the tanker’s driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle before it went off the road, causing the accident to occur at around 1:00 am.

Moments after the accident, locals hurried to the scene with jerry cans to steal petrol from the tanker.

The incident took place just a kilometre away from the scene where an LPG tanker, in February 2022, burst into flames as it was being hoisted at Mutarakwa area, leaving seven people injured and an equal number of vehicles reduced to ashes.

Police however rushed to the scene to control the situation, preventing any impending danger.

The officers warned Kenyans against siphoning fuel from overturned fuel tankers noting that this can potentially expose them to harm or even death.

In January 31, 2009 at least 130 people died after a tanker exploded at Sachangwan along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.

Two years later, 120 others were burned to death as they tried to siphon oil from a pipeline in Sinai slums in Nairobi. The September 12, 2011 incident left at least 100 others hospitalized.

In 2018, twelve people died after a fuel tanker rammed into a matatu on on the Eldoret-Webuye highway.