News
Boys’ team killed in Molo oil blaze
Posted Monday, February 2 2009 at 20:37
In Summary
- Families report 36 children missing to the Red Cross
“I don’t know what happened, I only remember seeing an overturned tanker and people had gathered around it scooping fuel,” he said.
Others at the Rift Valley Provincial Hospital are Alex Kipkoech, 13, Wesley Kibet, 10, Nicholas Kipchirchir, 13, among others.
They are suffering from various degrees of burns. Some of them are in stable condition.
The children are receiving counselling to help them recover.
A counsellor, Ms Jane Jelagat from Kabarak University, one of 36 working with the patients, described this as the worst tragedy she has ever had to deal with.
“This is the worst I have seen in my career, they are in a bad condition but we are working hard to help them recover,” she said.
The trauma is worse for some, she said, because they were also affected by the post-election violence.
John Kigaru, 10, a Standard Six pupil at Kampla Primary School in Molo, said he was at the scene with his 13 year-old sister who is still missing.
“I don’t know where she is. I hope she is fine,” he said.
In a ward where six children are receiving treatment, distraught family members, relatives and other villages held hands in desperate prayer.
Many wept openly, overwhelmed by pity over the children’s suffering.
“Whatever we have done wrong, God, we seek forgiveness… there are many innocent children in pain. Heal them, ease their pain,” a woman in the room prayed, tears flowing down her face.
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Submitted by Wanjiku98Posted February 05, 2009 12:51 AM
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Submitted by peter_mbugua2005
Only an idiot mite light a match at a site like that and hope to "escape" unhurt! It is also funny to believe the person who started this roumour since the witness could very easily be dead as well. Many things can cause petrol vapour to ignite. Even clothes rubbing and causing static. A misfiring vehicle passing by. Let's help the affected before pointing fingers.
Posted February 04, 2009 03:58 PM -
Submitted by kassign
sssshh...last year, we deliberately roasted each other, as we did foodstuff granaries...now its all coming back. Weep not child.
Posted February 04, 2009 10:46 AM -
Submitted by Hillaryio
I think we Kenyans need to go back to our the basics that define out cultural values. It seems to me that it is no longer unacceptable for parents to steal while their children are watching. These kids probably didn't even an idea of how dangerous it was being around such a tanker. They were just hanging around and watching the rest of the villagers, including possibly their parents, siphon petrol from the tanker. Please, parents and the rest of Kenyans, don't expect the government to take care of your lives. Do what you can, especially when you can.
Posted February 04, 2009 09:29 AM -
Submitted by Edkobu
It is with sorrow that i gather my feelings and write here. My condolences goes to the families who lost their loved ones. But from these people should learn how EXTREMELY dangerous it is to be around exposed petrol. Most of those burned must have had some petrol spill on their clothes, which was extremely dangerous. Even if they were not going to be burnt at the scene, they might have been burnt at home.
Posted February 04, 2009 02:38 AM
RSS
zubie, i have been thinking like you but i was afraid of writing it down. I think this is primary khama. We considered it heroic acts when we killed each us including burning children and counter burning a family in revenge during PEV. If anybody harmed somebody or rejoiced when people were being killed and property destroyed during post election violence, something terrible is closing in.