Building collapses in Kericho

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A building under construction has collapsed in the Kaptebeswet Bypass area in Kericho County, leaving several people feared trapped under the rubble.

Kenya Red Cross said emergency response teams are on the scene conducting rescue operations.

So far, four individuals have been successfully rescued and are receiving medical attention.

Authorities are urging residents to stay clear of the area to allow emergency services to work efficiently.

The cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing.

The County Government of Kericho said it has dispatched emergency response teams, including firefighting units and ambulances, to the scene.

In addition, the government said it is mobilising excavators and other heavy machinery to support ongoing rescue efforts.

The incident occurred days after a building collapsed at Blue Estate in Shauri Moyo, Kamukunji Sub-County.

The collapsed structure was among several buildings along the Nairobi River riparian corridor that had been earmarked for removal under the ongoing Nairobi River Regeneration Programme.

According to the county government, four male victims were rescued alive from the debris during the operation.

“Two were transported to Kenyatta National Hospital for further medical attention, while two received first aid at the scene,” the statement said.

However, four unidentified male bodies were also retrieved from the rubble and handed over to police officers at the site.

The multi-agency rescue effort involved the Nairobi City County Urban Search and Rescue team and firefighters, alongside officers from the National Disaster Management Unit, the Disaster Response Battalion of the Kenya Defence Forces, and the Kenya Red Cross.

Officials said the scene was formally handed over to the Kamukunji Assistant County Commissioner.

Authorities also cordoned off the area as a precaution due to structural safety concerns, noting that an adjacent building was showing signs of a possible collapse.

Preliminary reports indicated that the individuals had been salvaging steel bars and other construction materials from the abandoned structure when it collapsed.

Nairobi City County, through the Department of Urban Development and Planning, urged residents living along riparian zones and riverbanks to take immediate safety precautions.

“Nairobi City County continues to caution residents living along riparian areas and riverbanks to take immediate safety precautions and voluntarily relocate from these high-risk zones,” the statement said.

The Nairobi City County Government conveyed its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the four people who lost their lives.