This archive report was first published on 18 July 2021.
On a fateful Saturday night, a petrol tanker fire in Malanga, Gem, Siaya County, claimed the lives of 14 people, including three women, one of whom was seven months pregnant.
According to eyewitnesses, the locals had attempted to siphon fuel from the tanker, despite warnings from the driver. The tanker had collided with a lorry ferrying milk, and the driver had cautioned the public against removing the vehicle's battery.
However, some individuals, oblivious to the danger, continued to siphon oil from the tanker. One of them, in an attempt to speed up the process, hacked open another compartment, causing a spark that ignited the fire.
The fire engulfed the tanker, leaving 12 bodies burnt beyond recognition. One person later died in hospital, and families struggled to locate their missing kin. Only one body could be identified, and DNA tests were required to confirm the identities of the victims.
At the scene, charred human bones were covered with leaves next to the shell of the fuel tanker. Burnt clothes, shoes, and jerrycans lay metres away, while burnt grass covered a large area, indicating the painful ordeal the victims endured.
Leaders from the region, including Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, sent their condolences to the bereaved families, regretting the late response from authorities. The accident brings painful memories of similar incidents, including one in 2016 where 30 people died in Naivasha after attempting to siphon oil from a tanker.
