Tragedy struck a village in Navakholo, Kakamega County after a pit latrine under construction caved in, killing two young men.
According to reports, the victims were buried alive when the unstable soil collapsed around them during the digging process.
According to eyewitnesses, the collapse happened suddenly, drawing the attention of local residents who rushed to the scene in a desperate attempt to help.
"We heard screams and when we got outside we found people rushing to the scene; it was then that we learned that the soil caved in while they were inside the latrine. What happened is really painful," said Rachae Nancy, a resident.
The latrine was reportedly being dug in an area known to have unstable ground, exacerbated by the presence of old, collapsed structures beneath.
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Locals pointed to negligence and the lack of proper safety measures as contributing factors to the fatal incident.
According to locals, the rescue operation was hampered by inadequate equipment, with a water-filled fire truck sent to the scene instead of proper excavation tools.
"The first thing that we would like to ask the Kakamega County Government is why didn't they come to assess the site before the process of digging the latrine began?
"We also want to ask the county government to employ professionals who would be able to rescue people trapped underground during such events," said Emmanuel Litali, another concerned resident.
North Butsotso area Chief Wycliffe Kombo confirmed the incident, stating, "The pit latrine project began three days ago, and sadly, the soil was not strong enough to support the workers.
"One worker survived the ordeal and was taken to Bushiri Health Centre, where he was treated and later discharged. The bodies of the two men who died are now at Kakamega Mortuary."
The incident came a day after at least 4 people were feared dead after a septic tank beneath a hall collapsed in Bamburi, Mombasa.
The four were watching an English Premier League match on Sunday, April 20, evening at around 6PM when the septic tank collapsed.
Mombasa County Commissioner Mahmoud Noor confirmed the incident, saying the hall was built above an old septic tank.
Noor noted that a disaster management team from Mombasa County was deployed to the scene to rescue the victims.
"The video hall, which is used for watching football, was built on top of a septic tank. Unfortunately, that septic tank caved in, and between two to four people are trapped inside. We have spoken with the county disaster team, and we are arranging for equipment to rescue the people trapped inside," he stated.
