Four people were burnt to death as seven sustained serious injuries in an accident that involved three vehicles at Mukhonje trading centre along Eldoret-Webuye highway in Matete, Kakamega County.
The Thursday evening incident involved a petrol tanker, a Nissan matatu and a Toyota probox.
According to the eye witnesses, the accident occurred after the driver of the petrol tanker which was speeding from Munialo descending towards Mukhonje lost control and hit a Nissan matatu that had stopped to pick passengers and a Toyota probox which had been parked at the trading centre.
The tanker then proceeded to hit power poles holding a transformer causing a tremendous explosion that saw the three vehicles and several shops burn down.
It took about five hours for the fire to be contained by a team of firefighters from Kakamega, Uasin Gishu and Bungoma counties.
Confirming the incident, Matete Sub County Police Commander Thomas Ototo said four people died on the spot while seven were rescued with six being rushed to Webuye sub county hospital while one was rushed to Lumakanda county hospital.
Hundreds of residents took advantage of the situation to loot with several businesspersons left counting loses running into thousands of shillings.
