Several construction workers are feared dead in Murang'a after a building under construction collapsed trapping them inside.
The building along Jua Kali road Muranga Town came down shortly after 4.30 pm, as those in the neighbourhood heard cries for help from people trapped inside the debris.
Police and Murang'a County Government disaster management experts converged at the scene as hundreds of residents milled around.
County Police Commander David Mathiu led police in controlling the crowd as three workers were rescued from the debris by 5.45 pm.
A resident, John Maguta witnessed the collapse said he saw the building crumbling while he was in a nearby petrol station.
He said the building tilted and then fell over but the collapse was slowed down by a slope on the side of the building.
"As it came down we heard people shouting for help from inside and rushed to the scene to try and assist," said Maguta.
Jane Wambui said she was passing along JuaKali road when the building collapsed.
"It was a horrific scene as we could hear the screams of people could be heard awaiting to be rescued," said Wambui, a banana vendor.
There was commotion as the crowd surged forward towards the building and made it impossible for the rescue team to advance.
The crowd however resisted police efforts to push them away from the scene as a youth was roughed up as he attempted to throw a stone.
Two hours after the collapse a good samaritan Karunji Thayu drove his earth moving equipment from Maragua to join in the rescue operation.
Mathiu said the police are working with a rescue team to get those trapped inside.
"Right now we don't know the number of people trapped inside but we are making efforts to reach them" said Mathiu.
