Chaos erupted near Tassia in Embakasi, Nairobi, after hundreds of residents rushed to scoop spilt fuel from a ruptured petroleum pipeline despite fears of a possible fire or explosion.
The incident occurred around 9 am on Monday, November 9, 2026, when a contractor drilling on behalf of the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) accidentally punctured Line 5 of the Mombasa-Nairobi petroleum pipeline.
The damaged pipeline transports petroleum products from Mombasa to Nairobi, with the rupture occurring near Tassia, off Outer Ring Road.
Videos shared by local media showed crowds carrying jerrycans and other containers as they gathered to collect the leaking fuel. Police officers later used tear gas to disperse residents from the scene.
Authorities warned residents to keep away from the affected area because of the risk of fire and explosion.
KPC Shuts Down Affected Fuel Pipeline Section
The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) confirmed the incident and said it had immediately shut down the affected pipeline section to stop further leakage.
In a statement, KPC Acting Managing Director Pius Mwendwa said the company had isolated the affected section and deployed technical personnel, fire-safety teams and incident management specialists.
“Following the incident, KPC immediately shut down the affected pipeline section and deployed its Incident Management team, pipeline repair personnel and fire-safety teams to the site. The situation is under control,” Mwendwa said.
Also Read: KPC Foils Attempt to Steal Fuel Through Illegal Pipeline Connection in Mombasa
The company said it had also worked with security and emergency response agencies to cordon off the affected area and deploy additional equipment for product containment, recovery and environmental management.
Mwendwa said police had launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, with the drilling operators assisting police officers.
“Investigations are underway, and the KRC drill rig operators are assisting the Kenya Police Service with the investigations, while the KPC technical teams assess the extent of the damage and undertake the necessary repairs,” he said.
Two Trucks Collide Head-On and Burst Into Flames
Four people have died following a collision involving two trucks along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway in Makueni County. Both vehicles reportedly burst into flames after the impact, disrupting traffic.
Also Read: Four Killed as Two Trucks Collide Head-On and Burst Into Flames
The accident occurred at Kiunduani on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The victims included the two truck drivers, a woman and a child who were travelling in one of the trucks.
An incident alert issued by Armistice Security Consult International (ASCI) at 2:30 pm classified the crash as an elevated-level incident, citing the collision, vehicle fire and potential traffic disruption.
Metros Kenya reported that the four fatalities included the two truck drivers, a woman and a child who were travelling in one of the trucks.
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