Three people were buried alive and killed on Friday while working in Kisii at the Kegati Water Project. The tragedy caused a huge jam on the busy Kisii-Keroka highway at Maili Mbili.
The tragic incident was confirmed by the Kisii police commander Martin Kibet. He stated that “the three had been contracted to expand the water and sewerage systems from Kegati, Kisii, Nyamira to Suneka when the incident occurred at about 4.30 pm on Friday.” He confirmed that the tragedy in question was indeed a landslide.
“At Maili Mbili area within Bobaracho ward, a landslide occurred and three Kisii male adults namely Stephen Omenya, Robin Ratemo and Joseph Mokaya were completely buried under the soil and died instantly while four others escaped unhurt.”
The 7 were part of a Chinese company contracted by Kisii National government for the expansion of Kisii and Nyamira water supply and sewerage systems.
“Scene was visited by the police and Kisii county government disaster management team and the bodies of the deceased were successfully retrieved underneath and taken to kisii teaching and refferal hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy,” he stated.
A witness at the scene by the name Stella Kwamboka said whey she screamed when she saw the soil cave.”It was very horrifying,” she said.
One of the victims is said to have left behind a young family of two children and an expectant wife. Kisii Governor James Ongwae was spotted touring the site after the tragedy and condoled with the families affected.