A construction worker died after being struck by a concrete block that fell from the 11th floor of a building under construction in Mombasa County.
According to police, the victim was among more than a dozen workers who had reported for duty at the construction site when the tragic incident occurred. A four-inch concrete block reportedly detached from an upper floor and hit him on the head, causing severe injuries.
The worker was rushed to Tudor Health Care Clinic for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.
His body was later transferred to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
The incident prompted an immediate halt to construction activities at the site as police, labour officers, and county authorities launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Investigators are expected to assess whether safety regulations were being observed, including the use of protective equipment, debris containment measures, and supervision protocols at the construction site.
Workplace safety experts note that falling-object incidents remain among the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry, often linked to inadequate securing of materials, failure to establish exclusion zones, or non-compliance with occupational safety standards.
Separate Workplace Fatality in Nairobi
In a separate incident, police in Nairobi’s Gigiri Sub-County are investigating the death of a 22-year-old construction worker who reportedly suffocated while cleaning an underground water tank at a construction site in City Park Estate.
Police said three casual labourers had entered the tank, estimated to be about five metres deep, to carry out cleaning work when they began experiencing breathing difficulties.
Fellow workers managed to rescue two of the men. However, Nicholas Mbata was retrieved from the tank unconscious and was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary findings indicate he may have died from oxygen deprivation inside the confined space.
Officers from Parklands Police Station and Scene of Crime investigators visited the site and documented the scene as part of ongoing investigations.
The body was moved to Nairobi Funeral Home pending a post-mortem examination.
Growing Concern Over Construction Site Safety
The two incidents have once again highlighted concerns about occupational safety in Kenya’s construction sector. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), employers are required to provide safe working environments, conduct risk assessments, supply appropriate protective equipment, and ensure workers are adequately trained to handle hazardous tasks.
Authorities are expected to determine whether safety breaches or negligence contributed to either death and whether any legal action or enforcement measures will follow.
At this stage, investigators have not publicly attributed blame to any individual, contractor, or company, and inquiries into both incidents remain ongoing.