One person has been confirmed dead and five others rescued after a three-storey building under construction collapsed at Kaptebeswet in Kipchebor Ward, Kericho County, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns over construction safety standards.
Confirming the incident, Kericho County Commissioner Jeremiah Mwai Gicheru said multi-agency emergency response teams drawn from both the national and county governments were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they coordinated with members of the public in rescue efforts to extricate victims trapped beneath the rubble.
“We mobilized multi-agency teams immediately after receiving the report, and together with members of the public, we were able to mount a coordinated rescue operation to save those trapped,” Gicheru said, noting that efforts were intensified to ensure all victims were accounted for.
At the heart of the operation, the county’s Public Service Management officer in charge of disaster response, Jonathan Korir, spearheaded the rescue efforts, overseeing the coordination of first responders, emergency personnel and community volunteers at the scene.
He directed the deployment of rescue equipment, ensured rapid triage and evacuation of victims, and maintained operational command throughout the exercise, in what officials described as a swift, well-synchronized and highly coordinated emergency response.
Preliminary findings indicate that 23 construction workers were on site when the structure suddenly gave way, with 17 escaping unhurt in the ensuing chaos. Five others were extricated from the rubble with injuries and rushed to nearby health facilities for urgent medical attention, while one worker succumbed to injuries sustained in the collapse, raising renewed concerns over safety compliance at the site.
Providing an update on the condition of the injured, Joan Lelgo, in charge of emergencies at Kericho County Referral Hospital, said medical teams at the facility promptly attended to the victims, who were admitted in relatively stable condition, although one of the injured later succumbed to his injuries. “The remaining casualties have since been thoroughly assessed, stabilized, and are now out of danger. We are optimistic about their recovery, and our thoughts are with the bereaved family,” she said.
As the rescue operations wound down, Korir confirmed that the five individuals who had been trapped were successfully removed from the rubble, while cautioning contractors against continuing construction activities during the rainy season due to heightened structural risks. He also commended members of the public for their swift and critical role in supporting rescue efforts.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden and rapid collapse that left little time for evacuation. Enock Langat, an electrician and among the first responders at the scene, said local residents and workers quickly mobilized to assist in pulling survivors from the debris before emergency teams arrived.
In the aftermath of the incident, Area MCA Dr Erick Bett, who visited the scene, condoled with affected families and called for strict adherence to construction regulations as outlined by the National Construction Authority. He cited possible lapses in structural engineering and site supervision as contributing factors to the collapse.
“I urge all contractors and developers to strictly follow approved building standards to avoid such preventable tragedies,” Dr Bett said, adding that adherence to regulations is critical to safeguarding lives.
Bett further indicated that he would lobby fellow Members of the County Assembly to prioritize funding for emergency response infrastructure, noting that enhanced capacity would improve preparedness and response to similar disasters in future.
Former MCA Chebet Mabeche also expressed condolences and urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of building standards to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the cause of the collapse, even as concerns grow over compliance with safety regulations in ongoing construction projects across the county.
By Gilbert Mutai
