The Uasin Gishu county director of fire, rescue and disaster management unit Fredrick Serem addressing the firebrigade team during a meeting at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret
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The Uasin Gishu government has launched a sensitisation drive aimed at educating residents on the dangers of fuel siphoning. The goal is to deter residents from moving near oil tankers involved in accidents.
The move follows last week’s accident that left three people dead and 23 others injured in a oil tanker fire accident at Paul Boit along the Eldoret-Webuye road.
Eight of those injured are still admitted to the ICU at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Residents have been urged to exercise caution during fuel tanker accidents with boda boda operators accused of frustrating efforts by firefighters during such incidents.
The county's fire department has advised members of the public to desist from rushing to siphon fuel whenever fuel tankers are involved in accidents.
Officials from the department said the biggest challenge during fire response is crowd management, chaos and resistance from members of the public who attempt to scoop fuel.
"Some members of the public normally try to stop our team from doing their work, especially when we apply foam to weaken the petrol so that they can siphon it when it is still in its original state. This is very dangerous," county director of fire and disaster management Fredrick Serem said.
Officer in charge of the fire section David Sitati said that firefighters have been facing major challenges due to large numbers of people who are ferried with jerrycans on boda bodas to siphon fuel. The crowd often obstruct officers from managing such situations.
They also endanger more lives by transporting the fuel to other areas.
Sitati said all stakeholders need to enhance collaboration and conduct regular awareness campaigns to ensure people stop the habit.
"Despite the prevailing economic hardships, the solution cannot be to engage in life-threatening acts. We are urging members of the public to keep away from dangerous scenes and to understand that petrol is highly flammable and dangerous," Sitati said.
He advised residents to always keep off from dangerous scenes during fire-related accidents and those involving vehicles carrying gas cylinders.
He said the county plans to equip fire stations in Burnt Forest, Moi's Bridge and Maili Nne to decentralise the services.
Earlier, Governor Jonathan Bii demanded that oil tankers be banned from passing through the Eldoret central business district to avert future accidents.
The governor who visited the injured at the hospital over the weekend said most victims 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,” Bii said.
