Survivors’ scary account of Kericho’s sea of fire

By Peter Mutai and Karanja Njoroge

The incessant ringing of a mobile phone led rescuers into a bush where a badly burnt victim of the Samutet oil tanker fire had collapsed.

The male victim, the only one to succumb to his injuries by yesterday, was said to have run off into a thick bush while frantically trying to put out flames that engulfed him.

The victim’s mobile phone drew rescuers who were combing the bushes in the dark for survivors to where he had fallen unconscious, said Dr Betty Langat, the medical superintendent of Kericho District Hospital, where the man was rushed.

The victim, who was yet to be identified by police yesterday, was among 49 people who were burnt when the oil tanker exploded in Kericho District on Tuesday night.

The ill-fated tanker in flames after it rolled at Samutet in Kericho on Tuesday.

This was only one of the horror stories from the tanker fire accident told at the district public hospital where most of the injured were admitted.

The injuries occurred when an over-turned trailer exploded as more than 100 villagers swarmed around it to siphon fuel, only four months after a similar tragedy in Sachang’wan in Nakuru District

Police suspect the fire occurred when one man tried to steal the tanker’s battery, which emitted sparks causing an explosion.

A 13-year-old boy, Duncan Kipng’etich, who sustained 18 per cent superficial burns on the legs, saw most of the details of the explosion that occurred at around 5.30pm.

Speaking from his hospital bed, the Standard Eight pupil at Samutet Primary School, said he saw sparks before balls of fire engulfed the scene.

"A man was trying to remove the battery from the tanker when the fire started and all of us were screaming and burning as we escaped the scene," he recalled.

"I was standing a few metres away from the tanker when it burst into flames sending a ball of fire that caught everyone by surprise," he said.

Fled from scene

Kipng’etich said his feet caught fire as he fled from the scene.

"I tried dusting my feet on the grass but I was still burning even several metres away from the lorry," he said. Kipng’etich said the man who was trying to vandalise the tanker was also badly burnt.

The man who tried to steal the battery yesterday lay in a bed at the hospital too weak to speak.

Those who sustained burns included a man and his two sisters, Edmond Kibet (22), Chepkemoi Koech (23) and Cherono Koech (20).

Chepkemoi was among those airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Thirteen patients were airlifted to Nairobi by two military planes yesterday. They landed at Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 5.15 pm. Among the 13 were two teenagers who require attention at the Intensive Care Unit.

Victims arrive at the Wilson Airport for specialised treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital. [PHOTOS: TITUS MUNALA and TABITHA OTWORI/STANDARD]

At hand to receive them were Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, his Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia, and Nairobi PC James Waweru. Prof Saitoti said initial investigation indicate foul play since the tanker was carrying very little fuel, indicating that some of the consignment had been stolen before the accident.

Foul play

"This particular vehicle had very little fuel. We are investigating to ascertain the truth of the matter. If it is true they were involved in foul play they would have to face the law," Saitoti said.

He warned the public against siphoning fuel from tankers after accidents.

Villagers who survived the blast claimed the oil tanker driver and his loader jumped out of the moving track before it rolled.

However, Rift Valley Provincial Police Officer Joseph Ashimalla said they were looking for the driver of the tanker — a Mr Joseph Mbugua.

At the hospital Langat said 13 patients had sustained serious burns ranging from 30 to 60 per cent while 17 patients had burns of between 13 to 29 per cent, while 19 others suffered less than 12 per cent burns.

Ashimalla said the tanker was ferrying 43,000 litres of petrol from the Kenya Pipeline depot in Nakuru to Kampala, Uganda.

Leaders led by Cabinet Ministers William Ruto and Franklin Bett appealed for assistance from hospitals owned by multinational tea companies to accommodate some of the victims.

Energy Assistant Minister Charles Keter and MPs Benjamin Langat, Beatrice Kones, Joyce Laboso, Zakayo Cheruiyot, Julius Kones, Fred Kapondi and Jackson Kiptanui were in Kericho to console the victims.