Kiambu officials urge return of looted toxic Sodium Cyanide after truck accident

A tank of the extremely toxic chemical was found hidden at a residential home on Sunday while Ministry of Health officials were conducting a sensitization drive through the villages of Rironi and Kamandura.

The shipment of the highly contagious chemical was on its way to Congo from the Mombasa port when the incident occurred.

Rironi area chief Charles Kariuki urged locals who may have taken the jerricans to return them, as contact with the contents could be fatal.

"If you carried any of the chemical away, kindly know that it is very dangerous, return it for your own safety, no one will face any consequences for returning the chemical," Kariuki told Citizen.Digital. 

The Ministry of Health issued a statement on Saturday after receiving reports of the truck accident, warning that ingestion of even small amounts could be fatal.

"Immediate symptoms including headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. Severe exposure can lead to loss of consciousness and convulsions within minutes," the MoH said. 

"Long-term health issues, such as neurological damage, thyroid dysfunction, and cardiovascular problems, can result from prolonged or repeated exposure to lower levels of the chemical."

According to the MoH, the environmental risks posed by sodium cyanide are equally alarming. When released into waterways, it has the potential to kill a large number of fish and harm aquatic ecosystems over time.

"Although sodium cyanide degrades over time, its initial impact is devastating, necessitating swift and effective response measures," the Ministry of Health explained. 

Sodium cyanide is primarily used in industrial processes such as gold mining, where it dissolves and separates gold from ore using cyanidation.

It also serves as an important intermediate in the production of chemicals such as cyanuric chloride, which is used in herbicides, pesticides, and disinfectants.

Sodium cyanide is also used in electroplating to deposit metals such as gold, silver, and copper onto surfaces, organic synthesis for pharmaceuticals, metal cleaning and tarnish removal, and, historically, as a fumigant for pest control.