Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has raised fresh concerns over fuel tanker accidents in Kenya after witnessing a deadly crash along the Bungoma–Webuye road that left several people burnt beyond recognition.
In a statement shared on X, the legislator recounted the horrifying scene he encountered while travelling to Kitale.
According to Salasya, a fuel tanker was involved in a head-on collision with a trailer ferrying maize, triggering a massive fire that consumed the vehicles and victims at the scene.
“It was so painful when I witnessed people burnt to an unrecognisable state,” Salasya said, describing the incident as one of the most disturbing experiences of his recent travels.
The MP noted that such tragedies have become increasingly common on busy highways, particularly those used by heavy commercial vehicles and fuel tankers.
Salasya used the incident to criticise the government’s infrastructure priorities, accusing it of misplacing focus while neglecting critical safety systems.
He argued that instead of diverting public funds to what he termed an “unknown infrastructure fund,” authorities should prioritise upgrading the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) network to reduce the number of fuel tankers on major roads.
The MP said Kenya already has an extensive pipeline system transporting fuel from Mombasa to Kisumu, Eldoret and Malaba, but noted that its potential remains underutilised.
He proposed expanding pipeline connections to other major towns to minimise road transportation of fuel, which he described as highly risky.
Salasya warned that continued reliance on fuel tankers exposes motorists and nearby communities to preventable disasters.
He said accidents involving tankers often result in fires, explosions and mass casualties, making them more deadly than ordinary road crashes.
“We have lost so many lives on road accidents caused by fuel tankers,” he said, adding that the problem is solvable if there is political will and proper investment.
According to the MP, reinvesting KPC’s capital back into infrastructure would significantly reduce tanker traffic on highways and improve overall road safety.
The Bungoma–Webuye road is a key transport corridor linking western Kenya to the Rift Valley and Uganda.
It has in recent years recorded multiple fatal accidents involving long-distance trucks and tankers.
Salasya’s remarks come amid renewed public debate on road safety, infrastructure funding and the management of state-owned enterprises, with pressure mounting on the government to address persistent accidents on major highways.