In a tragic incident in Chepnyango village along the Kapsabet-Chavakali highway near Kamobo, two brothers, Davis Sang, 42, and Weldon Sang, 34, lost their lives while attempting to unblock a sewerage manhole.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon and has left the family in mourning.
The brothers were hired by a plot owner to clear a blockage in the underground sewer line, located 5 meters below the surface.
According to Nandi County police commander Dickens Njogu, Davis was the first to enter the manhole and died due to suspected suffocation and lack of oxygen.
Weldon subsequently entered the manhole to rescue his brother but also succumbed to the same fate.
A third individual, witnessing the brothers’ sudden silence, wisely decided not to enter the manhole, likely preventing further tragedy.
A neighbor reported that the plot owner had hired the brothers due to raw sewage flowing into nearby compounds.
Police Commander Njogu confirmed that an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
The incident underscores the dangers of working in confined spaces without proper safety measures, highlighting the critical need for adequate training and equipment to ensure the safety of workers in such hazardous environments.
In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of Davis Sang and Weldon Sang in a sewerage manhole in Chepnyango village, it has emerged that the brothers were not equipped with protective gear during their attempt to unblock the sewer.
Caro Muhonja, a nearby trader, highlighted the lack of safety equipment, stating that the brothers descended 15 feet into the manhole where the foul smell and lack of protective gear made survival impossible.
Emergency services, including Kapsabet fire engines and two ambulances, responded to the scene, but it was too late to save the brothers.
Their bodies were eventually retrieved and taken to the Nandi-Hills Level 4 hospital mortuary for preservation.
This incident has brought attention to the management of the Kapsabet Sewerage department, which, unlike other urban areas, is managed by the local municipality instead of the Nandi Water and Sanitation Company.
The lack of proper safety measures and equipment for such hazardous tasks is a significant concern, underscoring the need for stricter safety protocols and better management of municipal services to prevent such tragedies in the future.
