Two workers killed after wheat silo collapses in Industrial Area

Rescue operations at Golden and Mandhir Company off Lunga Lunga road, Industrial Area where a wheat Silo collapsed. [Photo: Moses Omusula/Standard]

Two people died after a silo collapsed on Wednesday evening in Nairobi's Industrial Area.

By 9pm on Wednesday casual labourers were struggling with shovels and plastic containers to clear wheat to rescue their colleagues.

Thursday, the National Management Disaster Unit, National Youth Service and Kenya Red Cross joined the exercise and by the time of going to Press, two bodies had been retrieved. This was confirmed by Nairobi Police boss Japheth Koome who said experts are investigating the cause of the disaster.

One of those killed was Roselyne Kemunto, a mother of two children who are below two years old.

The affected families, who were for the better part of Thursday denied access into the premises, complained that no one from the management of Golden and Mandhir Company had talked to them. Disturbed relatives of the victims complained that little was done to offer them psychological support following the incident.

"There has been no briefing. We do not know what is happening inside (the company). We do not know if they are using the best means to get victims out," said John Etindi.

Several workers faulted the quality of material used to make the silos given that they carry tonnes of wheat.

Elsewhere, the Commission of Administrative of Justice (Ombudsman) has sad that Nairobi county housing officials are not vigilant in ensuring the safety of buildings being constructed to avoid disasters.

In a report on what caused Huruma building to collapse killing five people in January, the Ombudsman said high costs have led to the infiltration of quarks in the construction industry.

The Ombudsman said many developers are resorting to using draftsmen as architects, while an engineer's job is done by a mason with no technical know-how.