A sand harvesting expedition turned tragic on Thursday when part of the Kamenwo quarry in Bomet County collapsed, killing a 15-year-old girl and injuring two others. The incident occurred as the victims were extracting sand lodged between rocks within the quarry.
According to Bomet County disaster management officer Stanley Mutai, the deceased girl died instantly after being trapped under the debris. The injured victims, a 7-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman, sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Longisa County Referral Hospital for treatment. The body of the deceased was also moved to the hospital’s mortuary.
Mutai revealed that the two children were not locals and had been visiting the area. They were reportedly touring the site in the company of the injured woman, who works as a miner at the quarry. Authorities suspect that the children may have unknowingly ventured too close to a fragile section of the site when the cave-in occurred.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. The two children were new to the area and had accompanied the woman to the quarry site. Unfortunately, the structure gave in while they were harvesting sand,” Mutai said.
Residents of the area expressed concern over the growing number of accidents at unregulated quarry sites, especially during the rainy season when the ground becomes unstable. They have called on the county government to increase supervision and enforce safety protocols in mining zones to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Local leaders have also urged parents to keep children away from hazardous areas like quarries and rivers, especially during school holidays when they tend to explore unfamiliar places.
As the community mourns the tragic loss of a young life, investigations are ongoing to determine whether the site adhered to safety regulations. Meanwhile, the county government has pledged to support the affected families and review safety measures in all operational quarries across Bomet.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers associated with informal mining activities and the urgent need for improved safety and monitoring across such sites in Kenya.
