Eleven of the 23 victims of the Turbo tanker explosion have been admitted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) under intensive care with severe burns, as the death toll from Thursday night’s accident along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway at Kapkong, near Paul Boit Boys Senior School, rises to three.
The hospital Medical Director, Dr Andrew Wandera, who was flanked by Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, said another victim had succumbed to injuries, bringing the death toll to three.
“As of now, we have received 23 casualties together with two bodies. Another victim succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment in the ICU,” said Dr Wandera.
The medic said 11 of the victims had been admitted to the hospital with severe burns all over their bodies, forcing medics to rush them to the ICU.
“Most of those admitted at this hospital are young male adults who apparently were burnt while attempting to siphon fuel from a tanker that was involved in an accident on Thursday night,” said Dr Wandera.
Dr Andrew Wandera (left), Senior Director of Clinical Services at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, accompanied by Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii, addresses the press on September 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
He said the hospital had mobilised specialised medics within the burn units to attend to the victims, while assuring the affected families that the hospital had enough facilities and human resources to offer the required medical services.
“The hospital has a specialised burn unit with more than 50 beds, hence we are capable of accommodating all the casualties to ensure they receive quality medical services, as well as offering psychosocial support to victims and their family members in need of counselling,” he said.
At the same time, MTRH management appealed to well-wishers to turn up at the facility to donate blood for the victims admitted to the ICU who are in dire need of blood transfusions.
Governor Bii, who visited the facility, expressed his condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones and promised that his administration would do everything possible to support the affected families.
Governor Bii used the opportunity to reiterate his call to truck drivers to use the bypass to avert congestion in the CBD.
Relatives of those affected by the incident involving a petroleum tanker on the Eldoret-Webuye highway at Paul Boit Kapkong coming to terms with what has befallen them at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County. on September 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
He said some accidents involving trucks could easily be avoided if drivers adhered to traffic rules and regulations governing their routes.
“Traffic officers must ensure that the law directing truck drivers to avoid the CBD is adhered to. Truck drivers should use the Kapseret-MaIli Tisa bypass to minimise the losses that are likely to happen in the CBD due to congestion by commercial trucks,” said Mr Bii.
Several affected family members gathered at MTRH yesterday morning to identify their loved ones and assess the progress of those recovering at the facility.
The relatives of the deceased described the tragedy as the most unfortunate incident that had robbed them of their loved ones.
Members of the public at the scene where a petroleum tanker was involved in an accident at Paul Boit Kapkong, on the Eldoret-Webuye highway in Uasin Gishu County.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya| Nation Media Group
“I received a distress call that a fuel tanker had been involved in an accident about one kilometre from my residence and my son was one of the victims involved. Upon reaching the scene, I found my son in a critical situation and he was rushed to MTRH for treatment. It is unfortunate that after staying with him through the night, he eventually succumbed to his injuries in the morning,” said Asha Jerop, who lost her 21-year-old son, identified as Sulemain Kipruto.
The family of Titus Kiptanui Yego, aged 48, who also succumbed, described the incident as a double tragedy since another relative involved in the same accident is undergoing treatment in the ICU.
“To us, this is a double tragedy. I have lost my brother Titus, who was the sole breadwinner for our family, taking care of my sickling mother. At the same time, my son Elvis Kipchirchir has been admitted to the ICU during the incident,” said Mary Kosgei, sister to Titus.
She appealed to both the national and county governments to support them during this difficult moment.
The victims of Thursday night’s accident were among a crowd of local residents who rushed to siphon fuel from a tanker that had been involved in a road accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the tanker overturned before an explosion triggered a massive fireball that engulfed dozens of people who were scooping fuel using jerrycans and buckets.
First responders and disaster management teams faced a daunting task as they rescued survivors at the scene under the charred wreckage hours after the blast.
The emergency section at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County on September 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani, who was among the first responders at the scene, described the incident as a devastating blow to the region.
“This has been a terrible accident. Lives of promising young men have been lost in a very painful way. My advice to locals is to always avoid accident scenes, especially fuel tank trucks, since they are extremely explosive,” said Mr Sicharani.
Following the accident, traffic along the Eldoret-Webuye corridor was temporarily paralysed as security officers cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties and facilitate emergency operations.
- Reporting By Titus Ominde, Emmanuel Ashindu and Ezrah Nanjendo
