This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 12, 2019, a fuel tanker was spotted leaking petrol near Stem Hotel along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, prompting a swift response from Nakuru County firefighters and police.
Firefighters sprayed foam on the leaking tanker to prevent the spread of the spill, while police set up a two-kilometre perimeter on both sides of the road to keep locals at bay.
County police boss Stephen Matu explained that the police response was informed by a recent tragedy in Tanzania, where an oil tanker explosion killed over 60 people.
Matu stated that the driver of the tanker had suspected a leak after smelling petrol but was unable to detect the source of the leak during a visual inspection.
After proceeding with his journey, the driver eventually found a deserted spot to park the tanker, averting a potential disaster.
Police diverted motorists to the old Nakuru-Nairobi road and guarded the scene for about four hours until the tanker was emptied and the road cleaned with foam.
Beatrice Muthoni, an M-Pesa operator, commended the police for their swift action, saying they had prevented potential losses.
