Villagers scramble for fuel again

Scores of people scrambled to steal fuel from an overturned tanker near Sachang’wan trading centre on Friday barely a fortnight after 130 were killed in a fire following a similar accident in the area.

Police had a rough time stopping the villagers, who were armed with jerricans and all sorts of containers.

Seventy eight victims of the tanker fire tragedy, who could not be identified, were buried in a mass grave at the centre last Monday.

On Friday, the tanker which was transporting fuel to Uganda, rolled less than five kilometres from the scene of the earlier accident. 

Rushed to scene

Molo head of police Liatabalia Achesa said the 6.30am accident on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway roused sleepy villagers who rushed to the scene.

However, police arrived on time and surrounded the tanker before the residents could start siphoning off the fuel. 

The loader of the tanker, Mr Jacob Njenga, said they were overtaking two vehicles that had blocked the road when the accident occurred. The tanker had 42,000 litres.

Mr Njenga said that youths along the highway are wont to engaging in illegal sale of fuel and other stolen goods which they either loot from moving trucks or those involved in accidents. 

The government intends to raise at least Sh200 million to adequately assist the victims of both the Nakumatt and Molo fire tragedies that claimed the lives of about 140 people.

The new development came as the team mandated to assist in raising the cash was unveiled in Nairobi.

On Friday, Special Programmes minister Naomi Shabaan said the funds would be used to pay medical bills for the more than 150 people who sustained both minor and major burns and offer any humanitarian assistance as may be required.

The Nakumatt/Molo Fire Victims Fund Management Committee will be chaired by businessman Naushad Merali.

Other members include Kenya Commercial Bank chief executive Martin Oduor-0tieno, Mr Peter Kihara Munga, Mr Bethwel Kiplagat and Mrs Esther Lusigi.

The committee, which was appointed by President Kibaki via a gazette notice of February 6, will be based at Dr Shabaan’s ministry.

Fund- raising

Said the minister at a news conference: “This committee will assist in fund-raising and will be fully responsible for the management of the fund.”

President Kibaki is expected to lead the nation in prayers and the fund-raising next Thursday.

However, Dr Shabaan, who was flanked by permanent secretary Ali Mohammed, ruled out compensating the victims.

“I don’t think compensation will be appropriate given the expenses that the government has undergone in resettling the IDPs,” she said.

She appealed to well-wishers to donate generously.

She said an M-Pesa account number 111222 had been set up to make this a reality.

“Account numbers for Zap (Zain’s money transfer service) and other banks will be communicated later,” she said.