Sand loaders at Mwitasyano River in Yatta, Machakos county /FILE
A 28-year-old man died on Saturday afternoon after being buried alive by a collapsing sand trench in Katisaa village, Kityoko, Machakos County.
The victim, identified as Kyalo Musyoka, had been harvesting sand from private land alongside a lorry driver.
According to eyewitnesses, the two had just finished loading the truck with sand and were preparing to leave when Musyoka realised he had left his shovel behind in the trench.
He returned to retrieve it but never came back.
As he descended into the trench, its walls gave way and collapsed, burying him under an estimated six feet of sand.
The lorry driver, puzzled by Musyoka’s delay, went to check on him about ten minutes later—only to discover the horrific scene. He immediately raised the alarm.
Residents rushed to help in the rescue, but their efforts came too late. Musyoka's body was eventually recovered and taken to a nearby mortuary.
A postmortem is expected to be conducted as police continue their investigations.
Machakos County officials have repeatedly warned against unsafe sand harvesting, which has led to a number of similar tragedies.
Despite ongoing awareness campaigns, many young men continue to risk their lives by working in unstable trenches without safety gear or supervision.
The sand harvested from such sites is in high demand, mainly for construction projects in Machakos and the greater Nairobi area.
Body Discovered in water tank in Makueni
In a separate incident, police in Kibwezi, Makueni County, are investigating a suspected murder after a decomposed body was found in a water tank.
The discovery was made Saturday afternoon. The body, which was badly decomposed, has not yet been identified.
Police believe the victim may have been killed and dumped in the tank, though investigations are still ongoing.
Authorities are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the deceased. The body has been moved to a local mortuary, where an autopsy will be performed.
Both cases underscore the dangers many Kenyans face in their daily work and the need for stronger safety measures and community vigilance.
