Panic has gripped locals around the Matharu area in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, after a lorry overturned and spilt an unknown substance into the River Kipkaren.
The incident was reported on the evening of Thursday, November 20, 2025.
According to Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim, the lorry was carrying a white substance believed to be an industrial chemical.
It was reportedly heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Good morning, residents of Uasin Gishu. I have received reports that yesterday evening, a lorry overturned in Matharu area, Tarakwa Ward, Timboroa Location, resulting in a spillage of a white substance into River Kipkarren–Bindura–Kesses. The vehicle was headed to the DRC,” Chelilim said on Friday, November 21, 2025, in a post on his Facebook page.
“The substance is suspected to be an industrial chemical,” he added.
With the content of the said white substance unknown, the county boss asked locals to temporarily stop using water from the affected river.
He noted that officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have since been dispatched to the incident site to assess the substance and confirm its contents.
“As a precaution, residents are advised to temporarily avoid using river water for drinking, domestic use, or livestock until the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) completes its assessment and confirms the chemical involved,” Governor Bii said.
ELDOWAS shuts down Kesses water treatment plant
Meanwhile, the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) said it had shut down its Kesses water treatment plant as a precaution following the incident.
ELDOWAS said the River-Kipkaren-Bindura-Kesses system forms a critical part of the upstream catchment that flows directly into Kesses Dam, which supplies water to the closed treatment plant.
“As a precautionary measure, the Kesses Plant has been temporarily shut down to prevent any risk of contaminated raw water entering the treatment system before the full composition of the spilt substance is confirmed,” said ELDOWAS Managing Director CPA Dr Lawrence Tanui.
The company further said it had dispatched a water quality team to conduct upstream and downstream sampling along the affected river stretch and within Kesses Dam..
“As multi-agency teams continue to assess the incident and confirm the nature of the chemical involved, residents are encouraged to remain alert and report any unusual smells, colours or frothing observed in nearby water bodies through our emergency lines,” ELDOWAS said.
