The weekend saw a series of unfortunate deaths across different parts of Kenya, emphasizing the need for improved safety standards in various industries, particularly in business and mining sectors.
In Kibera, Nairobi, a 66-year-old man, Silas Kirimi, tragically collapsed and died while attending to his general merchandise shop on Saturday evening. Witnesses reported that Kirimi was carrying out his daily routine when he suddenly collapsed. The cause of death has yet to be determined, with police arriving at the scene to move his body to the Nairobi Funeral Home for a postmortem.
Meanwhile, in Nakuru’s Rhonda area, another fatality occurred when 63-year-old Gregory Macharia fell from a pole he was fixing. Macharia was reportedly working on an electric pole when he lost his balance and fell, sustaining serious injuries. Despite being rushed to the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital for treatment, he succumbed to his injuries. This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by workers in precarious jobs, where safety precautions are often overlooked.
In Kakamega, a third fatality was reported in the mining sector, which has become notorious for its dangerous working conditions. Oscar Shivachi, 30, drowned while working at an unlicensed goldmine site in Machilif village. Shivachi, along with four other miners, had descended into a 300-foot deep shaft in search of gold. While the other miners were successfully rescued, Shivachi’s life was tragically lost when he drowned in water that had accumulated in the mine.
These incidents are part of a broader concern about safety across various sectors in Kenya. The mining industry, in particular, has been under scrutiny for unsafe working conditions that have led to numerous deaths in the past. Despite government efforts to regulate the sector through the introduction of the Mining Police Unit, unlicensed mining sites continue to operate with minimal oversight. The recent deaths are a stark reminder of the dangerous and often illegal activities that persist in these hazardous environments.
The government’s ban on unlicensed commercial mining in 2024 aimed to curb such fatalities, but enforcement remains a challenge. Many miners operate without protective gear or the necessary equipment, such as oxygen cylinders, making them vulnerable to accidents. Moreover, the use of heavy machinery in artisanal mining has contributed to the weakening of mine structures, leading to fatal collapses.
As Kenya continues to grapple with these tragedies, calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in business and mining sectors have never been more urgent. The tragic deaths of Kirimi, Macharia, and Shivachi are a reminder of the human cost of neglecting safety in the workplace. It is crucial that authorities prioritize the lives of workers, ensuring they have the protection and equipment needed to carry out their jobs safely.
