Two miners have died after a quarry shaft collapsed on them in Kowidi Location, Rachuonyo South Sub-County, Homa Bay County.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after a group of miners entered the shaft at about 7am.
According to police and witnesses, the walls of the shaft collapsed at around noon, trapping and seriously injuring two of the miners.
The injured men, identified as 35-year-old Samwel Omondi and James Raila, were rushed to Rachuonyo County Hospital for treatment.
However, both men succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment.
Police officers visited the scene following the incident.
An examination of the bodies showed that Omondi had suffered neck injuries, with blood oozing from his nose, while Raila had sustained broken ribs on the right side.
The bodies were moved to Rachuonyo Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where they are being preserved pending autopsy.
Police and other authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shaft collapse, including the safety conditions at the quarry.
Such deaths at mining sites have been on the rise amid calls for safety measures to be put in place to address the menace.
At least three people die weekly at separate mining sites in the country, police say.
Meanwhile, the body of a man who was reported to have drowned in River Thingithu in Meru County has been recovered after a search by divers and police officers.
The body of Collins Mwiti was retrieved from the river on Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026, nearly a day after he was reported missing following a suspected drowning incident.
Police officers who attended the scene confirmed the recovery before the body was removed and taken to Kanyakine Sub-County Hospital mortuary.
The body was preserved at the mortuary pending an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.
Police had earlier received a report of the suspected drowning on September 7 and launched efforts to locate Mwiti.
Elsewhere, a Tanzanian national working as a watchman was found dead at a kiosk in Bondeni village, Kitui County.
Police identified the deceased as Joseph Yoana, who was working as a watchman at nearby shops.
The body was found lying on a plastic bag at a kiosk about 500 metres southwest of Kitui Police Station.
Police said blood was oozing from Yoana’s mouth and nose when they arrived. However, officers reported that there were no visible physical injuries on the body.
His mobile phone was found charging at a charging port at the kiosk.
Crime scene officers processed the scene before the body was removed and taken to the Kitui County Referral Hospital mortuary, where it is being preserved pending an autopsy.
The postmortem examination is expected to establish the cause of death.
Police have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding Yoana’s death.
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