What began as an attempt by residents to collect fuel from an overturned tanker ended in tragedy after the vehicle burst into flames at Juakali near Paul Boit High School along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway.
At least two people were killed, and more than 10 others were injured in the Thursday night incident, with several victims suffering severe burns.
Police said the tanker had overturned following a road accident. Shortly after the crash, residents reportedly approached the scene with jerrycans to scoop fuel before the tanker suddenly caught fire.
The two people who died were burnt beyond recognition, according to authorities. Some of the survivors sustained burns covering more than 70 per cent of their bodies and were rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sichirani confirmed the incident and said rescue operations were ongoing, warning that the number of casualties could rise.
The Kenya Red Cross declared the incident a mass-casualty event and said 10 casualties had been evacuated by a multi-agency team comprising police officers, firefighters, and county ambulance crews.
The explosion also caused a major traffic disruption along the busy highway, with motorists and commuters stranded for several hours as emergency teams responded to the scene.