Man dies after concrete latrine wall caves in

Excavator exhumes a middle aged man who was buried alive when the toilet he was constructing collapsed. (Photo: Moses Kipsang/Standard)

A 25-year-old man was buried alive when a concrete wall for a pit latrine he was constructing caved in.

The man was working at a construction site at Wanyororo in Bahati sub-county of Nakuru County.

Witnesses said efforts to rescue the victim, Amos Kariuki Kinyanjui, was made difficult due to lack of proper equipment to excavate the debris.

Bahati OCPD Edward Wafula termed the incident as unfortunate. Mr Kinyanjui's body was moved to the Nakuru Municipal Mortuary.

"He was building a concrete wall on a public toilet funded by CDF at Wanyororo B when the incident happened," Mr Wafula said.

A witness, Peter Ndung'u, said he heard cries of help and he promptly responded, but could not help because the hole was filled with soil.

"The victim was constructing a concrete wall on the toilet when a lorry emptied sand against the wall, which could not withstand the pressure and caved in with the sand following," said Mr Ndung'u.

failed effort

Ndung'u said he tried to rescue the casual labourer with the help of neighbours but lacked equipment to remove the soil.

It took several hours before an excavator from the Geothermal Development Company arrived to help in excavating the soil to reach the body.

The locals, however, blamed the county government on the slow response to emergencies saying the victim could have been saved.

"It has taken over four hours and our efforts are bearing no fruits," said another witness, Samuel Munyasa.

Kinyanjui's wife, Evaline Likavua, said her husband was the sole provider of their two children aged two years and eight months old.

"He was our only breadwinner and we do not know how we will do without him. The children are too young and I am an orphan with no other source of income," she said.