Construction Worker Fatality in Mombasa Elevator Incident

MOMBASA – A construction worker lost his life in a tragic accident while working on a new elevator installation in an 18-storey building located across from Sauti House in Mombasa on Monday evening.

According to Kenya News Agency, the incident occurred when the middle-aged worker fell into the elevator shaft during the installation process. His colleague managed to jump to safety and was unharmed. Following the accident, emergency services, including the police and the County Fire Department, were dispatched to the scene, where they recovered the deceased worker’s body from the fourth floor’s elevator shaft approximately one hour later. The body was then transported to the Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) morgue.

County Executive Committee Member for Roads and Infrastructure, Dan Manyalla, provided details on the accident, noting the worker was extracted from the shaft without any safety equipment. Manyalla emphasized the importance of adhering to safety protocols, including the presence of a Site Engineer and a Safety Officer during such operations, and stated an investigation would be conducted into the building’s compliance with county regulations.

Further criticism came from Francis Auma, a Rapid Response Officer for Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI), who condemned the construction industry’s recurring safety violations. Auma highlighted the pattern of fatal accidents in Mombasa’s construction sector, marking this as the third death in two years related to skyscraper constructions. He called for a thorough police investigation to provide closure for the victim’s family.

Human Rights Activist Evans Momanyi also commented on the incident, demanding accountability for the negligence that led to the worker’s death. He urged the County Government of Mombasa to identify and prosecute those at fault for overlooking essential safety measures.