Villagers scramble for fuel after oil truck overturns in Meru

Residents of Igoji East in Meru County on Tuesday scrambled for fuel after a tanker overturned near the Mutonga bridge on the Meru-Embu road.

Some of the locals had managed to siphon fuel from the tanker, which was heading to Meru, before Administration Police officers arrived and cordoned off the area.

Igoji OCS Peter Maina, Igoji MCA John Kireria and Assistant County Commissioner Kennedy Mrima joined the officers and kept the villagers away from the scene of the crash.

The driver of the tanker and a passenger suffered minor injuries in the 8am accident and were rushed to hospital.

Villagers had rushed to the scene carrying plastic containers and started scooping the fuel, which had flowed into a ditch.

Mr Mrima ordered residents who had siphoned the fuel to discard it or face the law.

“It is unfortunate that people were still siphoning fuel from the tanker yet they were aware of the dangers of such actions,” Mr Mrima said.

Mr Kireria, the ward rep, said this was not the first crash involving a fuel tanker in Igoji.

In 2014, seven people were burnt beyond recognition when an oil tanker hit a matatu and a private vehicle at the Iraru bridge, a few kilometers from Tuesday’s accident.

“Let us not be forgetful of these tragedies.

“The government should also do more to educate Kenyans on the dangers of fuel tankers,” Mr Kireria said.