Transport along the Mai Mahiu -Limuru road was disrupted for over six hours after tanker ferrying petrol was involved in an accident spilling the fuel on the road.
Tens of motorists had to drive away from the scene on Wednesday night as area residents and tens of motorcycle operators scrambled for the free-flowing fuel.
Trouble started after the driver of the trailer ferrying the commodity to Nakuru from Nairobi failed to control the truck.
Tens of motorists using the road watched in awe as residents used all manner of containers to cart away the petrol oblivious to the dangers.
This caused a heavy traffic snarl up stretching to over 50 Kms on both sides with many motorists spending the night along the stretch before police arrived to clear the wrecks.
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According to a motorist Geoffrey Mwangi, the driver of the trailer failed to negotiate one of the sections at the escarpments resulting in a crash though no one was injured.
Mwangi said although many who were on the road watched from a distance due to the nature of the commodity that was being spilled many residents among them motorcycle operators took the opportunity to siphon it.
“Kenyans never learn from such episodes and we watched in horror as young and old rushed to the scene to scoop petrol from the tanker,” he said.
Another driver Hussein Abdi who was ferrying goods to the neighbouring Uganda said the road had become a haven for accidents especially for long distance vehicles.
“The solution to this daily menace is for the government to consider expanding this road or allow us to use the other Nairobi-Nakuru highway,” he said.
A passenger Mary Goreti said they spent the night in the area adding that many have had to postpone their different schedules due to the traffic snarl up.
Goreti said the road needs an upgrade noting that its current design was a haven for accidents due to the many trucks using it.
“This is the point the government needs to come in and see what it can do to alleviate the situation because it bringing losses to the country”.
Speaking on phone Naivasha OCPD Samuel Waweru said no one was injured during the accident adding that the mangled wreck of the tanker had been removed from the highway.
