A tragic accident occurred at a construction site in Kisumu County, where a carpenter lost his life after falling from the ninth floor of a building under construction. The incident took place at the Lumumba Affordable Housing Project in the Kaloleni area of Kondele on June 10. The victim, identified as John Okoth Tosho, was among workers carrying out duties at the site when he slipped and fell to the ground. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. His body was later moved to the mortuary for autopsy and other formal procedures.
Such fatal incidents continue to highlight the dangers faced by construction workers across the country. Many of these accidents are linked to inadequate safety measures at work sites, a concern that has been repeatedly raised by labor rights advocates and safety experts. They urge developers and contractors to strictly adhere to occupational safety regulations to prevent further loss of life.
Meanwhile, police are investigating a troubling wave of mob lynching incidents reported in various parts of the country. On June 11 alone, at least eight cases of mob justice were recorded, raising concerns among law enforcement authorities and human rights defenders. These incidents, scattered across Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, Isiolo, and Bungoma counties, involved the stoning and, in some cases, burning of suspected criminals by angry mobs.
In the Huruma area of Nairobi, two individuals were killed by a mob and their bodies set ablaze after they were accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle. Similarly, in the Jamuhuri area, another man lost his life after being accused of trying to snatch a phone from a pedestrian. He was chased down and stoned to death.
Elsewhere, in Kapsokwony, Mt Elgon, a man accused of stealing potatoes from a farm was stoned to death. In Mombasa’s Changamwe area, a suspect was killed after allegedly trying to steal household items. A similar fate befell a man in Kulamawe, Isiolo, who was accused of stealing a television set. Though not immediately killed, he was severely beaten and left in critical condition.
In Machakos County’s Matungulu area, a suspect was killed while attempting to steal construction materials specifically window frames from an unfinished house. His accomplice managed to flee and found refuge at a nearby police station, narrowly escaping the wrath of the mob.
Police have condemned the surge in mob lynchings, terming them criminal acts. They continue to urge the public to report suspects to the authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands. Investigations into all the incidents are ongoing, with the goal of identifying the perpetrators and preventing future occurrences.
