Bii Appeals for Blood Donations for Eldoret-Webuye Tanker Explosion Victims
The governor said some of the victims had lost significant amounts of blood and required urgent transfusions as doctors continued efforts to stabilise them.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
ELDORET, UASIN GISHU
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18,2026
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim has appealed to members of the public to donate blood to help save victims of the petrol tanker explosion along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway.
Bii made the appeal on Friday after visiting survivors admitted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), where medical teams are treating patients who sustained severe burns in Thursday night’s tanker explosion near Paul Boit Secondary School.
The governor said some of the victims had lost significant amounts of blood and required urgent transfusions as doctors continued efforts to stabilise them.
“We want to appeal to the people and Wananchi that these patients now require blood for them to be saved. I want people, especially those from around the families, to donate blood so that we can help sustain these people and give them another life,” Bii said.
He urged residents, relatives and well-wishers to report to the MTRH blood bank and support the hospital’s efforts to meet the demand for blood arising from the tragedy.
The governor said the extent of the burns suffered by some survivors had made blood donation particularly important as they undergo treatment.
The appeal came as MTRH continued treating 23 patients who were received following the explosion. Senior Director of Clinical Services Dr Andrew Wandera said seven patients had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, while another four were being prepared for intensive care.
This means 11 of the survivors require critical care, according to the hospital.
The death toll from the incident has also risen to three, after another victim died while undergoing treatment. Two people had earlier been confirmed dead at the scene, with the victims reportedly suffering extensive burns.
Bii visited patients in the hospital and conveyed his condolences to families who lost their relatives in the incident.
He said the Uasin Gishu County Government would provide the necessary support to families affected by the tragedy as authorities continued coordinating the response.
The governor also warned residents against attempting to collect fuel from overturned tankers, saying such actions can turn road accidents into major disasters.
He cited the Sachangwan tanker fire tragedy as a painful reminder of the dangers associated with attempting to siphon fuel from accident scenes.
The Eldoret-Webuye Highway explosion occurred after a petroleum tanker overturned near Paul Boit Secondary School, triggering a fire that affected people in the area.
Emergency teams, including firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and the Kenya Red Cross, responded to the scene as efforts were launched to rescue and evacuate the injured.
Bii has now called on residents to support the survivors by donating blood as medical teams continue providing treatment at MTRH.
Members of the public who are eligible to donate have been urged to visit the MTRH blood bank and assist in replenishing supplies needed for the ongoing emergency response.
About Author
