The burning question: Will Kenyans ever learn from fires?

By Karanja Njoroge and Peter Mutai

At Kericho District Hospital where the Samutet oil tanker fire victims are admitted, the scene was similar to that witnessed at Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in February after the Sachang’wan tanker tragedy.

Victims groan in pain as arrangements are made to transfer those with severe burns to Nairobi.

But most of the survivors are, however, reluctant to admit they were at the scene to scoop oil.

Some claim they just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The residents claimed they initially watched from a distance after the tanker overturned but when they saw nothing happening, they ventured closer.

Mr Bernard Chepkwony says he received news that a lorry had overturned at 5pm. He threw caution to the window and went to the ill-fated tanker.

"Moments later, the tanker caught fire, I desperately ran for my dear life," he adds. Chepkwony, 25, counts himself lucky and swears never to set foot near another oil tanker.

Mr Henry Cheruiyot says three of his relatives and his worker are among those injured. The four are his two sisters, a brother and his herdsboy.

The four: Cherono Koech, Chepkemoi Koech, Edmond Kibet and Benjamin Kipkurui are admitted with serious burns.

"They were all at the scene when the tanker exploded and it is by the grace of God that they are still alive," he said.

Cheruiyot, whose home is near the accident spot, says it is not the first time a tanker has overturned at the same place. Rift Valley PC Hassan Noor Hassan rules out claims that hunger and poverty draw residents to these death traps.

"It is indiscipline. These situations can be avoided," the PC says.

A sensitisation campaign by the Government to educate masses on the Northern corridor on dangers of rushing to loot from tankers is yet to bear fruit.

Bad culture

"It is an entrenched culture of impunity and failure to obey the law," Mr Hassan warns.

Two months ago, angry villagers at Kapsoit stoned police who tried to stop them from looting from an overturned tanker.

"They threw stones at officers who tried to prevent them from getting near the lorry," Hassan added.

In a cruel irony, the Tuesday evening accident happened a few kilometres from Kapsoit.

Just like in the Sachang’wan tragedy, politicians trooped to the Hospital to console the injured.

"We cannot continue blaming other people for our mistakes. We should behave responsibly," Agriculture Minister William Ruto said.

Energy Assistant Minister Charles Keter said the Government is considering to, in future, transport all petroleum products through the existing pipeline.

Rift Valley police chief Joseph Ashimalla said police were looking for the driver of the ill-fated lorry, who is still at large.

"We cannot state for now whether the driver deliberately caused the accident or not since he disappeared after the accident," the PPO says.

Mr Ashimalla says if police had not rushed to the scene, there would have been more casualties.

But as the victims continue to recuperate, one cannot stop wondering whether any lessons have been learnt.