• A self-involving accident occurred July 20, 2024, when a truck transporting Sodium Cyanide that was being ferried to Kampala, Uganda.
• Nema said the truck was ferrying 414 drums each weighing 50kg.
Image: NEMA/X
The National Environment Management Authority has cautioned Kenyans against coming into contact with containers that contain sodium cyanide.
“The public is cautioned against coming into contact with the containers. The containers should not be opened, spilt into surface water or come into contact with acid or any chemicals,” Nema said.
The organisation said in case there is any member of the public in possession or spots the missing containers or any spills on the environment, they should inform the area chief, or the nearest police post or call Nema incident hotline number 0741101100.
A self-involving accident occurred on July 20, when a truck transporting the chemical was being ferried to Kampala, Uganda.
Nema said the truck was ferrying 414 drums each weighing 50kg.
Following the incident, Nema said 386 drums were recovered from the scene intact and transferred to another truck, while another seven were retrieved from members of the public within the area.
The agency said some drums were carried away by members of the public oblivious of the danger to their health and environment.
Sodium cyanide mostly comes in form of white powder but it is sometimes transported in liquid form.
The heart, respiratory and central nervous system are most susceptible to cyanide poisoning.
It is used in several industries, such as metal refinery.
In Kenya, it is popularly used as the main ingredient in gold leaching.
Kenya has strict regulations on the handling and transport of the chemical. For instance, it must be transported in an openly marked vehicle showing its contents.
However, most of the chemical used in Migori gold refineries is smuggled in from Tanzania.
According to the Global Initiative Against Organised Transnational Crime, a tonne of cyanide is between Sh400, 000 and Sh500, 000.
However, legal cyanide in Kenya goes for between Sh600,000 and Sh700,000, the initiative says on its website.
According to the Draft Kenya National Chemicals Policy, 2022, sound management throughout their life cycle is essential to avoid significant and increasingly complex risks to human health, ecosystems and substantial costs to national economies.
The draft says that any person transporting toxic or hazardous industrial chemicals or materials shall ensure that there is safety in carriages by providing pallets, dunnage and appropriate personal protective equipment.
The substances are kept in separate compartments from other luggage, and the transporting vessel has first aid facilities.
The draft also says that the transporting vessel has appropriate material to contain any spillage, appropriate means of extinguishing fire and danger warning signs on the truck.
The driver or any other person authorised in the vehicle has appropriate knowledge and training on transport and safe handling of chemicals or materials from an approved training provider; the driver or any person authorised to handle chemicals in transit will ensure they use personal protective equipment.
The chemicals or materials must not be exposed to adverse weather conditions and the transporting vessel when not in motion during transit is parked in a designated parking yard along the road highways, rail access and container storage areas.