A tragic incident unfolded in Kisii Town on Sunday morning when a four-storey building under construction collapsed in Itierio, Kisii County.
The disaster resulted in the death of two individuals one succumbed to injuries en route to the hospital, while the other was discovered lifeless beneath the rubble.
Rescue operations are actively underway, with emergency teams striving to locate and assist others who may be trapped under the debris
The collapse occurred around 8:15 a.m., catching many by surprise.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud rumble, followed by the sight of the building crumbling to the ground.
At the time of the incident, approximately 25 workers were believed to be on-site. Kisii County Disaster Management Officer, Julius Tinega, confirmed that 24 individuals have been rescued and are receiving medical attention at local hospitals.
However, the identities of the deceased have not been officially released.
Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Kenya Red Cross, and St. John Ambulance personnel, have been working tirelessly to extract individuals from the debris.
Despite their efforts, the operation has been hampered by the dense and heavy materials used in the building’s construction, slowing down the rescue process.
Rescue teams have expressed optimism, citing instances like the survival of a hen pulled alive from the rubble, which raises hopes of finding more survivors.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the building was constructed on riparian land, which may have contributed to its instability.
National Construction Authority (NCA) officials revealed that the developer had ignored multiple orders to halt construction due to safety concerns.
The NCA had suspended the project twice, with the latest suspension in July 2016, but construction continued without adherence to safety regulations.
The developer is currently in hiding, and authorities are urging him to surrender to assist with ongoing investigations.
This incident is not isolated.
In October 2017, a five-storey building collapsed in the same Mwembe area, resulting in two deaths and several injuries.
Additionally, in 2018, a seven-floor building collapsed, leading to multiple fatalities.
These recurring tragedies have intensified calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations and accountability among developers.
