Kenyans Rush to Loot After Truck Overturns on Highway
On Wednesday afternoon, as economic tensions continue to rise, residents of Bahraini Centre were seen desperately scrambling to take bags of maize flour from a truck that had overturned along the Eldoret-Kitali Highway, causing a major traffic blockage.
A video shared with Newshub.co.ke showed the chaotic scene, with people running away from the overturned lorry, some carrying heavy bales of maize flour on their backs, while others used motorbikes to transport the stolen goods.
This kind of incident is becoming increasingly common, as Kenyans often take advantage of such accidents to loot goods.
Just two weeks ago, a similar situation was reported when residents were seen looting cement from another overturned truck near Sagana Bridge in Kirinyaga County.
Photos from the scene showed people climbing onto the overturned lorry to grab the remaining bags of maize flour still stuck inside.
Others rushed to snatch bags of maize flour scattered across the highway, with motorbike riders also ferrying heavy loads to nearby areas.
This looting behavior has become so frequent that it almost seems like a routine whenever goods spill out of overturned vehicles.
In another incident a few years ago, a trailer carrying cartons of sodas overturned along the Eastern Bypass Road.
The driver was left helpless as looters stole the sodas, resulting in significant traffic jams. This widespread looting mentality is often carried out without considering the dangers involved, even when accidents involve hazardous materials.
Despite numerous warnings about the dangers of looting, such as the potential for fuel leaks that could cause explosions and fatalities, many continue to ignore these risks in their desperation to seize goods.
Even when an oil tanker overturns, as happened on April 29 along the Southern Bypass near Kibera, Kenyans still rush to steal the spilt fuel.
The incident occurred when the truck’s front tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and skid off the road.
However, in this case, instead of looting the leaking oil, onlookers were seen assisting the injured driver into an ambulance, showing that sometimes, the response to such accidents can be different. Nonetheless, the larger trend of looting still dominates when goods are involved.
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