Jared Nyakundi, 35, was working on the second floor of the building when it suddenly fell, killing five people.
Jared says he was lucky to survive. As the building crumbled, heavy debris trapped him, leaving only a small space for him to breathe.
“I was lying on my back and could barely move. I found a small hole that allowed me to breathe. That’s how I stayed alive for six hours,” he said, still shaken by the experience.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene and managed to pull him out alive. Jared was immediately taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he is recovering.
The tragedy happened on Monday, April 7, when the three-storey building came down suddenly during construction work.
Reports say at least five people died, and many others were injured. The rescue team, made up of firefighters, police officers, and Red Cross workers, is still searching the rubble to find more people who might be trapped.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) has now confirmed that the building was not safe.
It had already been flagged for demolition before the collapse. The NCA says the owner ignored warnings and continued with construction, putting workers' lives at risk.
“This building had serious structural problems. We had advised for its demolition due to non-compliance with building codes,” said an NCA official.
Many Kenyans are now asking how construction was allowed to continue on a structure that had been declared unsafe. Some believe that corruption and poor enforcement of building laws may be to blame.
In Kisii town and across the country, the incident has caused fear, especially among construction workers. Many are now worried about their own safety on sites that may not meet proper standards.
“I was just doing my job,” Jared recalled from his hospital bed.
“I never thought that the whole building could fall while we were inside. I have never been that scared in my life.”
He thanked the rescue team for saving his life and called on the government to take building safety more seriously.
“People should not die just because someone wants to save money on materials,” he said.
Local leaders have also visited the scene and promised to help the victims and their families.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati said a full investigation will be done to find out who is responsible.
“This tragedy should never have happened. We must make sure that anyone found guilty of ignoring safety rules is punished,” the governor said.
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