Two dead, three injured after building collapses in Kakamega

Kenya: Two people on Wednesday died and three others were injured after a building under construction collapsed in Milimani Estate in Kakamega.

Over 20 workers who were at the construction site next to Kakamega State Lodge escaped with injuries when a building adjacent to the site collapsed on Wednesday afternoon.

The workers are said to have been constructing a hotel when disaster struck.

The owner of the plot, a businessman based in Nairobi, was not present during the accident.

An eye witness, Richard Ouma said 23 people were working at the construction site before a slab which had been demolished to pave way for the new building collapsed and injured five people who were digging the foundation.

“Two people have been confirmed dead, three are in critical condition and have been rushed to Kakamega General Hospital,” Ouma said.

Kakamega Central OCPD Richard Ngetich confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing to establish the exact course of the accident.

"We are still carrying out investigations to establish the cause of the collapse before we issue a report," Ngetich said.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya sent condolences to the families of the bereaved and cautioned those found building without necessary county approvals saying action will be taken against them.

"We have immediately launched investigations into the incident. But first the police should arrest the owner of the building for failing to ensure safety of the workers," Oparanya said.

He was accompanied by County Executive in charge of Housing Suleiman Sumba.