A young engineer working at an affordable housing construction site in Kisumu has died after a tragic accident involving falling timber. The incident happened on Thursday morning at a site located in the outskirts of Kisumu city, where the government is building low-cost houses under the affordable housing programme.
According to eyewitnesses, the engineer was supervising construction work when a fellow worker carrying a large piece of wood accidentally lost control. The wood, believed to be part of the roofing material, hit the engineer on the head, causing serious injuries. Workers at the site said the engineer collapsed immediately after being struck and started bleeding heavily.
“We were all working when suddenly we heard a loud thud. When we turned, we saw him lying on the ground. Blood was oozing from his head,” said one of the workers.
Efforts were made to rush the engineer to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Medical staff at the hospital said he had suffered a severe head injury and had lost a lot of blood by the time he arrived.
The incident has caused deep shock and sadness among the workers and management at the site. Many described the young engineer as hardworking, humble, and passionate about his job. Some said he had only been working at the site for a few months and had shown great promise.
Police officers visited the scene and launched investigations into the accident. The body was moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary for postmortem.
Kisumu County officials and representatives from the State Department for Housing were also seen at the site later in the day. They promised a full investigation and said they would work to improve safety measures at construction sites.
The deceased’s family has been informed, and burial plans are expected to begin soon. This tragedy has raised fresh concerns about safety standards and the need for strict enforcement of occupational health rules in construction sites across the country.
By Kenyans