This archive report was first published on 26 August 2021.
On August 26, 2021, a devastating crane malfunction occurred at the Qwetu Hostels construction site in Hurlingham, Nairobi, resulting in the loss of nine lives.
The incident happened around 12:30 pm when the crane came crashing down as the operators were fixing it. The crane operators, who were 10 in number, were still on top of the crane when it collapsed.
Seven Kenyans and two Chinese nationals lost their lives in the incident. The bodies were taken to Chiromo Mortuary, while the slightly injured worker was rushed to Nairobi Women's Hospital.
According to Kilimani OCPD Andrew Mbogo, the company doing the construction has accounted for all the people involved in the incident. He further stated that they were investigating what could have caused the accident.
Witnesses at the scene described the incident as a loud bang, followed by the crane coming down. The crane operators were thrown down from over 70 meters high, and only one survived due to being belted up.
Construction work at the 14-storey students' hostel, which is being built opposite the Department of Defence (DoD) headquarters by Chinese firm ZJCC Engineering and Construction company, was almost complete at the time of the incident.
