Worry as residents in Bungoma scramble for fuel from overturned tanker

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 20 Jan, 2022 20:05 | < 1 min read
Villagers siphoning fuel from the tanker which was on transit to Malaba. PHOTO/SCREENGARB

Alarm has been raised after a fuel tanker overturned at Buema village in Bungoma county.

Villagers swung into action immediately after the tanker which was on transit to Malaba overturned.

Tom Ntrwanambewe, the driver of the tanker said that he was trying to overtake another vehicle when the unfortunate incident happened.

"Kuna gari ilikuwa ina overlap, na akaja akaiingia mbele. Na kulikuwa na gari mbele yangu. Ikabidi nisonge pande hii ndio nikagongwa," the driver said.

The accident disrupted traffic along the busy Uganda - Malaba highway where there has been a busy traffic snarl-up following the Covid-19 vaccine certification misunderstanding at the border.

In 2021, the Kenyan government offered help to tens of families that were affected by a fuel tanker explosion that occurred at Malanga trading centre, on the Kisumu-Busia highway.

According to Gem MP Elisha Ochieng’ Odhiambo, the government committed at least Ksh50,00 to each family which was affected by the tragedy.

In the tragic incident, bodies of 13 people were burnt beyond recognition.