The bodies of two men who died in a 50-metre-deep pit after its walls collapsed on Monday in Junda, Mombasa County, were still trapped more than 24 hours later.
According to witnesses, the two, identified as Emmanuel Karisa, 50, and Katana Kahindi, 28, were covered in mud after the pit’s walls collapsed.
Karisa was digging the pit on Monday around 1pm when the walls collapsed on him. Kahindi and his colleague Sammy Ngala went in to retrieve the digger’s body when the walls caved in on them as well.
Residents were able to save Ngala, who is currently being treated at the district referral hospital.
Residents blamed the two levels of government for the slow response in rescuing the men.
“We are disappointed with the way the national government through the area chief and the county government are taking this matter lightly even though it was reported to them,” said a resident of Junda, Hesbond Osumba.
Officials from Mombasa County said they had stopped residents from attempting to retrieve the bodies in order to prevent further disasters.
Kenneth Ambani, a County Executive Committee member for sports who was on the scene, said the county had hired two experts who were on their way.
As of Tuesday afternoon, efforts to determine how the bodies will be recovered were still underway, as overnight rains had further loosened the soil, making operations difficult.
“We urge the local people to stop their efforts to recover the two bodies. The type of soil is light, it needs skilled people to undertake the exercise,” he added.
