JUJA— A repair job turned deadly in Juja on Wednesday when a water tank at a local paper factory collapsed, killing two workers and leaving a third critically injured.
The victims were among five employees from the Pulp and Paper Company who had been assigned to fix the tank. The structure, made of iron sheets and supported by concrete pillars, gave way during the repairs, trapping three men underneath.
“Two of them died on the spot, while the third was rushed to Naindu Hospital in Thika in critical condition,” Juja Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Ndege told reporters.
Preliminary police reports suggest that the concrete pillars holding up the tank had weakened over time, raising concerns about structural neglect. “The pillars failed, causing the tank to curve and collapse,” an officer familiar with the report said.
Inspectors from Kiambu County have since moved in to investigate the site. Officials also announced plans to review the safety of other buildings in the area, amid fears that similar accidents could occur.
Journalists seeking to visit the factory were turned away, with management declining to comment and asking for more time before releasing a statement.
The accident has cast a spotlight on workplace safety standards in Kenya’s industrial zones, where workers often face risks linked to ageing infrastructure and lax oversight. For families of the dead, the collapse marks yet another reminder of the human cost behind overlooked safety lapses.
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