A worker died and another one was seriously injured when a trench collapsed and buried them at a construction site in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
The two were working at the foundation of a building near the Ruiru Prison when tragedy struck on Monday, May 22, 2023.
One of them died at the scene while his colleague was rescued and taken to Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital in critical condition.
Area Deputy County Commissioner Margaret Mbugua who led a team of security officers to the scene said the contractor and operator of an excavator have been arrested following the incident.
She divulged that the contractor did not have valid documents from the county government and that police were looking for the owner of the project who was at large.
“It is very unfortunate to lose lives in this manner. When we talked to the contractor, he confessed that he did not have the requisite official documents for the works he was carrying out," Mbugua told journalists.
Witnesses said the excavator began digging near where the two workers were removing timber from columns, prompting the soil to slide into the trench and bury them alive.
"It took more than 30 minutes for members of the public and government officials to get to the scene and start rescue efforts," an eyewitness, who declined to be named said.
Mbugua warned contractors against carrying out projects without the necessary clearance documents from the relevant authorities.
The body of the worker was still lying uncollected from the scene by the time of going to press.
