Two people died, and 23 others sustained burn injuries following an incident involving a fuel tanker and another vehicle near Paul Boit Boys High School along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway on the night of Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The victims were allegedly attempting to siphon fuel from the overturned tanker, which was transporting petrol and diesel, when the explosion occurred.
All the casualties were taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), where two were pronounced dead on arrival while the rest were admitted with varying degrees of burns.
What is the state of Eldoret tanker explosion victims?
According to MTRH Senior Director of Clinical Services Dr Andrew Wandera, seven patients had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while more were being prepared for critical care due to the nature of their injuries.
“The ones who went to ICU have 25 per cent burns and above. Some had burns in the face that sometimes compromise breathing. Some may not have major burns, but it’s because of the facial injuries,” said Dr Wandera.
He noted that all the victims were adult males and that doctors had not recorded any cases of internal burns. Despite the severity of the incident, Dr Wandera expressed confidence in the hospital’s capacity to handle the situation.
“So far we’re doing well. We have adequate supplies and the burns are being addressed appropriately,” he said.
The medic added that most of the patients were expected to recover and be discharged in good condition.
Bii visits tanker explosion victims at MTRH
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii on Friday, September 18, 2026, visited those admitted in hospital, conveyed condolences to families affected by the tragedy and commended emergency responders for containing the situation.
“On behalf of the county, I want to express shock at the tragedy. We’re sorry to the families that have lost loved ones and those injured,” said the governor.
He also urged members of the public to stay away from accident scenes involving fuel tankers and allow trained personnel to manage emergencies, warning that attempts to collect spilt fuel can have devastating consequences.
Governor Bii further appealed for blood donations to support the treatment of those injured, saying the county government would continue working with other agencies to ensure victims receive the care they need.
Watch Uasin Gishu Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani detail how the fatal incident happened.
