Kilimani Construction Tragedy Survivor Narrates Ordeal

A Kilimani construction survivor has narrated his ordeal following a tragedy that claimed nine lives on Thursday, August 26.

A mason identified as Elisha Ojiambo, is lucky to be alive. 

Elisha recalls seeing one of his colleagues, who was on top of the crane, hanging in the air as the machine and supporting concrete pillars collapsed.

Kilimani Construction Accident That Happened on Thursday, August 26

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He was alerted by the loud screams that made him to scamper for safety.

"We heard screams from the people who were operating the machine and when I looked up, I saw the operator on the ground under the weight of the crane," he recalled.

Elisha had spent the better part of the day moving construction materials to the 10th floor in the upcoming 14-storey Qwetu Student Residence.

They were under the supervision of an expatriate from China, who also perished in the accident. The 70-tonne crane they were using came tumbling 70 meters down.

Benson Kimani, a security guard at the site, also survived the accident. While just on his normal day-to-day chores he heard loud bang followed by screams. When he reached the site he found bodies strewn on site.

"It is then that it hit me that the machine had collapsed on the workers. I proceeded to raise an alarm," stated Kimani.

So far, the police are still trying to trace six workers who have not been accounted for since the accident occurred.

Kilimani police boss, Muturi Mbogo, stated that the tragic ordeal occurred when the contractor had just finished the work.

Zong Xudong, the General Manager of the construction company, issued a statement on Thursday, August 26, stating that the site had been closed following the accident to allow proper investigations.

The building where the accident occurred is located opposite the Department of Defense Headquarters.

Kilimani Construction Accident That Happened on Thursday, August 26

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