One injured as Kenyan traders' vehicle bursts into flames in Amudat
Driver Enock Krop, 28, told police he noticed flames shooting from the exhaust pipe through his side mirror and immediately stopped to warn passengers to evacuate.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. (File Photo)
AMUDAT - A Toyota TownAce carrying eight Kenyan nationals caught fire along the Amudat–Alakas border road on April 25, 2026, leaving one woman hospitalised with burn injuries and merchandise worth an estimated sh5.6 million reduced to ashes.
Mike Longole, police spokesperson for the Mt Moroto/ASTU region, said the vehicle, a white Toyota TownAce of Kenyan registration KBX 680Y, burst into flames at 9:09 pm opposite Nabokotom Primary School in Nabokotom village, about five kilometres from Amudat Town Council.
The vehicle was ferrying seven Kenyan traders who had attended the Saturday market in Amudat and were on their way back home.
Driver Enock Krop, 28, told police he noticed flames shooting from the exhaust pipe through his side mirror and immediately stopped to warn passengers to evacuate.
All passengers managed to exit except one unidentified woman who rushed back to retrieve her clothing merchandise and sustained serious burns in the process. She was evacuated to Amudat Hospital, where she remains admitted.
The fire was eventually extinguished using rudimentary methods.
Longole noted that the nearest fire brigade is stationed in Moroto, over 140 kilometres away, a gap in emergency response infrastructure that left the scene without immediate professional support.
The charred wreckage remains at the scene pending removal.
Property destroyed, mainly clothing goods, is estimated at Kenyan shillings 200,000, equivalent to approximately sh5.6 million.
The eight occupants, all Kenyan nationals from Kapenguria and Kitelakapel, were identified as Krop (driver), Anita Chepkomoi, Monica Lotunyo, Gilberton Menda, Mariam Abdala, Mary Mukanyo, Nancy Sangka and the unidentified burn victim currently admitted at Amudat Hospital.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
Longole urged all motorists, especially those transporting goods, to service their vehicles regularly and carry functional fire extinguishers.
"Passengers should evacuate immediately when fire is suspected. Do not attempt to save property at the cost of your life," he said.