This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
On October 17, 2019, a fuel tanker overturned at Mai Mahiu, prompting a crowd of residents to siphon its contents despite the obvious dangers.
As a result, a massive traffic jam formed along the busy road, with a huge crowd scrambling to scoop up the leaking oil.
A video clip shared online showed a police officer attempting to direct traffic while a group of mostly young men on either side of the road ran with 20-litre jerrycans to collect the fuel.
Just a few months prior, a similar incident in eastern Tanzania resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people after a fuel tanker exploded, killing dozens of young men and burning motorbikes.
