Twenty-two injured people are admitted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) following an oil tanker explosion at Paul Boit along the Eldoret-Turbo Road last night.
Eleven of the victims are in the ICU.
Dr Andrew Wandera, Senior Clinical Services Doctor at MTRH, said seven of the victims are in the ICU with burns covering more than 25 per cent of their bodies, while the rest have facial and body burns.
Dr Wandera confirmed that two victims arrived at the hospital dead as medics worked to treat the injured.
“We have adequate supplies and medics who are working to help the victims so that they can heal quickly”, said Dr Wandera.
Uasin Gishu County police boss Wilberforce Sicharani said a small tanker carrying petrol and diesel collided with another vehicle, causing the lorry to lose control and crash on the road.
“Several rushed to scoop fuel, and it’s during the commotion that the tanker burst into fire, causing two deaths and many other people were injured”, said Sicharani.
He said it was suspected that one of the people may have touched the battery in the lorry, sparking the fire.
Governor Jonathan Bii visited the injured at the hospital and said most of them had serious burns.
“We are saying sorry to the families affected as we also caution that no one should run to areas where such accidents occur because there is always the danger of fire”, said Bii.
Bii said they had coordinated a quick response last night when the accident occurred, including the Kenya Red Cross, which he said did good work to ensure victims were quickly taken to hospital.
Governor Bii said they were working with the Kenya National Highways Authority to deal with oil tankers that still pass through the Eldoret City CBD.
He said they would also work with the traffic department to direct the lorries to use the Eldoret Southern Bypass instead of the highway through the Eldoret CBD.
Bii said they had also coordinated humanitarian assistance for the families affected by the tragedy.
