Traffic has been disrupted along the busy Thika superhighway in Nairobi after an accident in Githurai involving a petrol tanker.
The tanker which was travelling from Nairobi to Thika, overturned at the car wash area after losing control and hitting the road barrier.
No injuries have been reported.
The accident has however caused the spillage of fuel in the area and Police have had to fend off residents from siphoning it.
Some of the people who witnessed the accident said that there were attempts from a few to try to fetch the fuel.
“Sahii uchumi ni mbaya, wangetuachia tuchote hii mafuta.”
However, the police officers as well as the KDF managed to control the crowd with water canon to chase the crowd away.
Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) in a statement said that police were on site directing traffic.
“Kenha wishes to notify the public that a section of Thika Superhighway between Roysambu and Githurai (outbound traffic) has been temporarily closed after a petroleum tanker overturned, spilling fuel on the road.
“Police are on site and controlling traffic as well as ensuring safe evacuation of the tanker. Motorists and members of the public are asked to evacuate from the area and to cooperate with the authorities as the evacuation process takes place,” Kenha said.
Photos shared by the Authority revealed that the army fire service trucks were on site, cleaning the spilled fuel.
Motorists had decried the traffic situation along the highway, with some pointing out that they had to cancel their plans and divert to other routes.
“It’s bad on both sides. People are turning back up the left side so there is chaos at the Roysambu roundabout. I had to go back and find my way to the northern bypass. I wanted to go to Kahawa Wendani but could not access it.”
