A normal working day at a construction site in Milimani estate turned tragic after three workers died inside a septic tank.

The three are suspected to have suffocated and collapsed inside the tank that is still under construction.

Nakuru town West Sub County Police commander Francis Wahome confirmed that the three lost their lives in the line of duty as they went inside the tank on Tuesday midmorning.

Mr Wahome said the deceased had used a rope to descend to the floor of the nine feet underground tank to finalize the project, before they collapsed.

“We rushed to the scene immediately the case was reported, but when we arrived we found the three had already passed on,” said Mr Wahome.

Witnesses said the deceased comprised a mason with his two assistants who have been working at the construction site.

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Ms Betty Akalla who is in charge of the site said the workers had embarked on the day’s duties at 8 am before the tragedy occurred about three hours later.

She said the mason identified as David Kimani was the first one to enter the tank but became unresponsive minutes later.

His assistant who followed him also behaved in a similar manner.

It was however the second assistant who raised the alarm of the situation inside the tank.

According to Ms Akalla, the said worker went inside the tank but came out immediately after he experienced shortness of breath.

“He said he saw his colleagues lying unconsciously in the tank and as he tried pulling one of his colleagues, he realized he was having difficulties breathing so he decided to climb out the tank,” said Ms Akalla.

It is at this time that they decided to call for help from workers from the nearby construction sites. They also alerted the police and the disaster control centre.

Ms Akalla said the workers mobilized themselves and had one of them enter the tank in a bid to rescue the two. He however suffocated and collapsed too.

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Mr Kimani’s wife Rose Wanjera said she was working in the garden when she was informed of the incident. On rushing to the scene, she learnt that her husband was among the three men.

Ms Rose Wanjera wife to the deceased mason David Kimani.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

“I could not believe it because he left the house in the morning heading to work and never foresaw such a tragedy happening. It is sad that I am now left to take care of our two children alone,” said Ms Wanjera.

The woman said they sired two children with Mr Kimani during their four-year union.

The officials from the county's disaster management department arrived at the site and retrieved the bodies which were then ferried to Kwa jack mortuary.

The police boss said they have launched investigations to establish the real cause of the workers’ deaths.

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Three men die in bizarre incident after entering septic tank in Milimani estate

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Joseph Openda