Three men working at Golden Africa Kenya Ltd’s in Athi river died under questionable circumstances on Christmas eve raising questions about the safety procedures at the plant.
Stephen Okoth, Kelong Mathew Kiprotich and James Wanjala had been assigned to clean a soak pit within the premises when they all suffocated to death.
Okoth went in first. When he realized he was in trouble he cried for help. Kiprotich and Wanjala went to save him but they all died in the process.
The Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) section where the three met their deaths consists of a number of big waste collection tanks that hold waste briefly before it is treated and disposed. It is said that the men did not have any safety equipment when they were assigned the job.
Athi River Sub County Police Commander Mary Njoki confirmed the incident.
Golden Africa Kenya Ltd (GAKL) is the parent company of Pika cooking oil, Avena cooking oil, Zenta bar soap and Super Sapa bar soaps among other products.
The company’s general manager was not immediately available to comment.