‘Reckless and dangerous’: Vivo Energy speaks after man filmed spraying fuel on car

A screengrab from the circulated clip/Vivo Energy Kenya has condemned the incident in which a man was captured on video pouring fuel on a car at a Shell service station in Nairobi, warning that the reckless act posed a serious risk to public safety.

The incident occurred at Shell Westview service station on the night of Wednesday, October 28, with footage circulating on social media showing a man handling a fuel nozzle and directing petrol onto a vehicle as another man watched.

The video triggered reactions online, with Kenyans questioning how the incident was allowed to happen at a petrol station, where strict safety precautions are required to prevent fires and explosions.

In a statement issued Thursday, Vivo Energy Kenya, which markets and distributes Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in the country, strongly condemned the conduct.

“We strongly condemn this act of irresponsible, reckless and negligent conduct. Such behaviour poses a serious risk to public safety and endangers people’s lives,” the company said.

The company said the behaviour captured in the footage did not reflect the safety standards expected at its service stations across the country.

“Safety is our highest priority, and the behaviour shown in the video does not reflect the standards expected at any of the Shell service stations in Kenya,” Vivo Energy said.

The footage prompted questions from social media users about the circumstances surrounding the incident and the potential danger posed to motorists, attendants and other customers at the facility.

One social media user said: “I wonder what kind of behaviour is this, rich people don’t even do that.”

Vivo Energy said it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and confirmed that the station’s retailer had reported the matter to the relevant authorities for investigation and necessary action.

“We take this matter seriously and are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident. Our retailer immediately reported it to the relevant authorities for investigation and necessary action,” the company said.

It added that it was reinforcing safety requirements to ensure standards were consistently maintained across its network.

The company also thanked members of the public who raised concerns over the video, assuring customers of its commitment to safety.

“We remain committed to maintaining the highest safety standards across our network,” it said.

Petrol stations handle highly flammable products, making compliance with safety procedures essential. Spilled fuel and fuel vapour can ignite when exposed to an ignition source, potentially causing fires that endanger people and damage property.

The incident has renewed attention on the need for vigilance and strict enforcement of safety procedures at fuel stations, particularly during refuelling.

Vivo Energy did not disclose whether the individuals captured in the footage had been identified or whether any arrests had been made by the time of publication.

‎The company said investigations were ongoing as it sought to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.