Tragedy struck at the Bajun Tower along Mukunga Street in Nairobi’s Pangani area, resulting in the loss of four lives and eight individuals sustaining injuries after a harrowing fall from the 15th floor due to a collapse of the construction building’s scaffolding.
Confirming the incident, Starehe Sub-County Police Boss Fred Abuga stated that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the catastrophic event. Rescue operations, primarily focusing on the injured construction workers, were promptly initiated.
“Walikuwa wanapiga plaster kwa gorofa ya 15 na zile miti zilikuwa zinawazuia ndio zilivunjika,” OCPD William Sirengo quipped.
Emergency response teams, spearheaded by the Nairobi County Disaster Management units, swiftly responded to the scene at Mukunga Street. Despite ongoing construction at the Bajun Towers, the confirmation of the four fatalities underscored the severity of the incident.
“Those seriously injured are receiving treatment, some at KNH and others at different medical facilities. Additionally, counseling services have been arranged for anyone in need,” reported Patience Kitonga of the Kenya Red Cross.
At the time of going to press, efforts were underway to account for all the present construction workers.
However, local residents expressed dismay over the safety standards observed during construction in both the Pangani and Eastleigh areas.
“Initially, they used metal supports, but now they’ve resorted to using wood, endangering lives,” remarked one Jeremiah Kyalo.
The community is now highlighting the lack of oversight from regulatory agencies tasked with monitoring and enforcing safety standards during construction in the area, indicating a need for increased vigilance and adherence to regulations.
