This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
On November 20, 2019, Edwin Wawire Wafula, a Kakamega-based lawyer, stopped at Julika Petrol Station to refuel his car, a KCW 634Z Isuzu pick-up. He asked the attendant to fill the tank with diesel, but she mistakenly put petrol instead.
According to court papers, the attendant panicked and told Wawire to switch off the engine, admitting she had made a mistake. The manager, Julius Gitonga Karanga, later arrived and promised to compensate Wawire for any loss and damages, but later became 'extremely arrogant'.
Wawire had the car towed to a garage, where it was repaired, and he reported the incident at Kakamega Central police station. He is now seeking special damages for the purchase of new engine parts, including an injector pump, injector nozzles, fuel filter, and fuel pump, amounting to Sh333,500.
He is also seeking compensation for towing charges, alternative means of transport, and advocate representation fees, totaling Sh190,000. Wawire alleges that the attendant's negligence and the management's failure to take responsibility led to his substantive losses.
Julika Petrol Station has denied Wawire's claims, stating that he never refueled his car at the station on the said date or any other date. The respondent alleges that Wawire drove an unregistered vehicle to the station and parked it for hours without saying a word, and that he became furious when told to remove the vehicle.
Wawire has been given 14 days to serve the respondent with the court papers.
