An Eldoret mother is devastated after her son died from severe burns sustained in a fuel tanker explosion along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway, bringing the death toll from the tragedy to three.
The incident took place on the night of Thursday, September 17, in the Kapkong area, when a fuel tanker travelling from the Eldoret side reportedly lost control and overturned after colliding with an oncoming vehicle.
Members of the public flocked to the scene, with some attempting to collect the fuel spilling from the wreckage. Moments later, the area caught fire, and the tanker exploded.
”We do not know exactly why it exploded, but it is possible that someone may have ignited something near the vehicle,” police said.
A Mother’s Heartbreak at Moi Hospital
Asha Jerop arrived at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital early the following morning hoping to check on her 21-year-old son, Suleiman Kipruto, who had been rushed to the facility the previous night with critical burn injuries.
The news she received, however, was not what she had prayed for.
”I woke up in the morning and came here. We tried to look for him, but we were told to wait and remain calm as we waited for him. Later, I was called and told, ‘Mum, I’m sorry. Your son has passed away. He was in the ICU, but he has left us,'” she said, breaking down in tears.
Police had by then recovered two badly burnt bodies from the scene, with identification made difficult by the extent of the fire damage. Eyewitnesses described attempting to stop bystanders from approaching the overturned tanker before the explosion, but said their warnings went unheeded.
”We tried to tell them, ‘Do not go near the fuel. Do not collect the fuel.’ They said they were going to collect it anyway, so we moved away. Then the fire erupted. When it exploded, it became a disaster,” one local resident recounted.
Another resident appealed directly to young people in the area, saying,
”I want to tell my fellow young people that even if you are facing financial challenges, do not rush towards things like this.”
Hospital officials confirmed that seven patients had been admitted to the intensive care unit, with a total of 11 requiring ICU-level care.
Arrangements were under way to transfer the remaining patients. Medical staff also made an urgent appeal to the public to donate blood to support the injured.
”I want to tell people at home and residents in this area to donate blood so that we can help those who were injured,” a hospital official said.
All those injured in the explosion are currently receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
