Uasin Gishu residents have been urged to stay away from fuel tanker accident scenes after firefighters accused boda boda operators of ferrying crowds that hamper rescue efforts while endangering lives.

Addressing members of press in Eldoret City, officials at the County Government of Uasin Gishu’s Fire and Disaster Management department said members of the public continue to rush to accident sites to syphon fuel, creating chaos and obstructing emergency response.

County Director of Fire and Disaster Management Fredrick Serem cited recent incidents, including a crash at Paul Boit in Turbo Sub-County that killed five people and left several others with serious injuries, as well as earlier accidents at Cheptiret, Muhonje and Maili Nne.

“Some members of the public normally try to stop our team from doing their work, especially when we apply foam to weaken the petrol so that they can syphon it when it is still in its original state. This is very dangerous,” Serem said.

Together with Officer in Charge of the Fire Section David Sitati, they said large numbers of people arrive on boda bodas carrying jerrycans, attempt to block firefighters and sometimes transport the fuel to other locations, further endangering the public.

“Despite the prevailing economic hardships, the solution cannot be to engage in life-threatening acts. We are urging members of the public to keep away from dangerous scenes and to understand that petrol is highly flammable and dangerous,” Sitati said.

The officers said crowd control remains their biggest challenge during fire responses despite previous awareness campaigns.

They called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders and regular public education to end the practice.

Residents were also advised to stay clear of scenes involving vehicles carrying gas cylinders.

The officials noted that the county administration under Governor Jonathan Bii is continuing plans to equip fire stations in Burnt Forest, Moi’s Bridge and Maili Nne.

By Maurice Aluda