Two Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) officials were arrested on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, during a police raid.
The two were among eight people that police ambushed in a fuel siphoning racket in Industrial Area, Nairobi.
During the raid, police found a truck belonging to the NMS packed in the area as the culprits were waiting to siphon fuel from it.
Police seized 25,000 litres of siphoned fuel from the compound that was housing tankers with the illegally obtained fuel.
Officers also found fuel tankers from various companies packed inside one of the garages that they believe fuel was being siphoned from.
The woman suspected of engaging in the illegal trade fainted once police officers raided her workplace and officers had to wait for her to regain consciousness.
However, some of the officers claimed that the woman faked fainting to avoid arrest but the police were patient and took her into custody when she woke up.
Despite warnings from authorities of the dangers of siphoning fuel after the deaths of hundreds in previous incidents, many Kenyans continue to do it.
In July 2021, a fuel tanker exploded in western Kenya while people were siphoning fuel from it, killing 13 people.
Residents started siphoning fuel from the tanker after it was involved in a crash with a trailer near the Malanga Village in Siaya county.
In 2009, at least 120 people were killed after a huge crowd descended on an overturned gasoline tanker, which then blew up.
