A Uganda-bound train, carrying thousands of litres of diesel, derailed yesterday, a few kilometres from Gilgil town, spilling its cargo. Transport was halted along the Naivasha-Nakuru line as was traffic on the Gilgil-OlKalau road.
By afternoon, normal transport was restored. Residents and passersby rushed to collect the fuel but were blocked by police officers who controlled the situation.
The officers had a rough time controlling the crowd. Resident Jack Kimani said they heard a loud bang. He said residents arrived with jerrycans to collect the diesel.
“We had to block them from accessing this area since we did not know whether the product was explosive or not,” said a senior officer who declined to be named.
Meanwhile, Naivasha police have intensified patrols along the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu road following increased cases of highway robbery. Officers from various units will patrol for 24 hours a day. Last week, police recovered water treating chemicals worth millions of shillings that were stolen along the route.