Vivo Energy condemns viral petrol-spraying incident at Shell outlet

• Vivo stressed that the conduct captured in the footage did not reflect the safety standards expected across its Shell service station network.

Vivo Energy Kenya has raised concerns over safety compliance at petrol stations following a viral video showing a man spraying petrol onto a vehicle at the Shell Westview Service Station in Nairobi.

The viral footage, recorded on the night of October 28, shows a man handling a fuel nozzle and directing petrol onto a vehicle as another man stands nearby watching, raising concerns about the potential danger to motorists, attendants and other customers at the station.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, Vivo, which markets and distributes Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Kenya, strongly condemned the incident, describing the conduct as reckless and dangerous.

“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.

Vivo stressed that the conduct captured in the footage did not reflect the safety standards expected across its Shell service station network.

“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,” the company said.

The company confirmed that it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and that the station's retailer had immediately 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,” it said.

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

The distributor further thanked members of the public who raised concerns about the footage and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high safety standards across its service stations.

It did not, however, disclose whether the individuals captured in the video had been identified or whether any arrests had been made.

Petrol is highly flammable, and careless handling or spillage of fuel can expose people and property to serious fire hazards, particularly in the presence of an ignition source.