Kenyan Authorities Request Assistance Following the Theft of a Highly Toxic Chemical Close to Nairobi

After sodium cyanide was stolen from an overturned truck close to Nairobi, Kenyan officials issued a dire warning about the serious health consequences.

Health officials issued a warning about sodium cyanide, a highly hazardous substance that can be fatal if swallowed or inhaled in small amounts. It also poses a serious risk to the environment. People who raced to the area after the vehicle overturned late on Saturday took many containers.

On the congested Nairobi-Nakuru highway, the authorities asked people to stay away from the location, while the US embassy suggested that its nationals take an alternate route. About 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Nairobi, there was an accident that resulted in tarmac leakage.

The reason behind the truck’s overturning is unknown, and the driver’s health has not been made public by the authorities. If anyone sees the containers, they should notify the closest police station, according to the national environmental agency. The organization stated, “Consumers are also advised not to come into contact with the contents of containers, which are white substances in pellet form.”

According to Kenya’s health ministry, only individuals wearing protective gear should handle the chemical. Ingestion or inhalation of significant quantities of sodium cyanide can cause fast mortality due to its interference with oxygen utilization. Headache, vertigo, fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, and convulsions are among the symptoms, according to the report. Sodium cyanide can linger in the environment for a long time and build up in the food chain. It can also pollute soil and groundwater.

According to local media, some individuals who arrived with jerry cans hauled away containers of the chemical, while others who realized the drug would not help them left empty-handed.