Whenever most people go to a fuel station, they simply request the fuel attendant to put a certain amount, then watch the personnel key in the amount on the machine.

After that, they pay no attention until the attendant informs them that all is well and they can pay and leave.

This was the case for Peter Mwangi* who on October 4, 2023 after a long day at work, went to fuel his Toyota Fielder at one of the petrol stations in Nakuru city.

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As a habit, Mwangi says he always puts fuel worth Sh 400 just before his vehicle runs out of fuel.

Like most car owners, he knows his car.

In this case, Mwangi knew that the fuel he had put was enough to take him to Ngata that night and also get him to his place of work the following morning which is an office along Kenyatta Avenue.

So after fuelling his car, off he went. However, when he arrived at Ngata Bridge, Mwangi says his vehicle suddenly started moving slowly, shook a little and finally went off.

“For a fact I knew that my car was in perfect condition since I had taken it for service on Monday and it had been checked thoroughly. Just to confirm, I opened the bonnet and ruled out any kind of problem,” he recalls.

He says he knew the other probable cause of his stalled vehicle was that it had ran out of fuel, a fact that Mwangi struggled to come to terms with.

“I called a boda boda guy who is stationed near one of the petrol stations and told him to bring me fuel worth Sh 200. Upon putting the fuel, the engine engaged and I was on my way,” he said.

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Mwangi is however convinced that there was foul play at the fuel station.

“I have heard cases where the fuel attendant would key in the amount on the machine, then put fuel worth half the amount and top the rest of it with air.”

“The machine still counts it as money spent, but in the real sense there is no fuel that was put. Some especially take advantage of those people who put low amounts since the fuel gauge in the car won’t show a substantial change and therefore the customer will assume that the fuel was already put,” he adds.

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Although Mwangi did not go back to the fuel station to tender his concerns, he vows never to use the services of that station again.

sanyabret@gmail.com

Nakuru man accuses fuel station of 'selling air' instead of fuel

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Bret Sanya