Kenya Insights

Tag: Acorn Holding

  • Jinxed: How 9 Lost Their Lives In Kilimani Horror Crane Accident And Qwetu’s Line Of Tragedies

    Jinxed: How 9 Lost Their Lives In Kilimani Horror Crane Accident And Qwetu’s Line Of Tragedies

    Nine construction workers were crushed to death, and another slightly injured, on Thursday after a tower crane collapsed at a construction site in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area.

    The victims, including two Chinese men, were in a group of ten workers dismantling the crane after concluding exterior painting works before it suddenly collapsed.

    The horror accident, which happened at a Qwetu hostels site, occurred shortly after 12.30 pm causing people to flee in panic and confusion as they tried to comprehend the disaster.

    The 14-storey students’ hostel, which is nearing completion opposite the Department of Defence headquarters in Hurlingham, is owned by Acorn Holdings.

    70 metres

    Eyewitnesses said they heard people screaming for help only to see the crane speedily tumbling down with its human cargo – from a height of about 70 metres above the ground.

    “We were having lunch when we heard things falling and thought part of the building was coming down,” said Michael Odhiambo, a 27-year-old construction worker.

    “When we got there, we found a crane had snapped and tumbled down,” he said, adding that nine of the workers died on the spot while one technician escaped with slight injuries.

    It was a disturbing scene as nine badly mutilated bodies lay on the ground.

    Full investigation

    ZJCC Engineering and Construction Company, the Chinese firm undertaking the project, sent condolences to the affected families offering a full probe into the incident.

    “We have since sealed off the site and are collaborating with the Kenya Police Service and the Directorate of Occupational Safety & Health Services (DOSHS) in conducting further investigations into the incident,” the company said in a statement.

    Preliminary findings indicated that part of the giant tower crane collapsed during its decommissioning, killing nine technicians – seven Kenyans and two Chinese.

    This is the second fatal incident involving a Qwetu hostel project in five months.

    Two workers died

    In March, Acorn suspended construction at its project on Thika Road near the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) after two workers died in a site accident.

    The project – Qwetu Aberdare Heights – was 70% complete at the time of the incident.

    After four weeks of investigation, the National Construction Authority and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services allowed the contractor, Wadia Construction Company, to resume work on site.

    Details on the findings of the investigation were not released to the public.

    Known for its purpose-built student hostel brands Qwetu and Qejani, Acorn has the largest purpose-built student housing portfolio in Sub Saharan Africa at over 3,000 units.

    The company, which has raised more than Sh8.5 billion for student accommodation projects, is currently working towards the delivery of additional 7,000 units.

  • 9 Dead After Crane Crashes At New Qwetu Hostel Construction Site In Hurlingham

    9 Dead After Crane Crashes At New Qwetu Hostel Construction Site In Hurlingham

    At least 9 people were confirmed dead Thursday after a crane collapsed at a construction site in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area.

    Police said among the dead were seven Kenyans and two Chinese.

    “We have lost 9 people,” said Andrew Mbogo, Kilimani police chief, “they include two Chinese and six Kenyans.”

    People are seen outside the construction site in Hurlingham, Nairobi.

    The 14-storey building that was almost complete is a hostel run by Qwetu near Daystar University.

    A witness Michael Odhiambo said the crane was being dismantled when it came down.

    “Some people were up on the crane dismantling it when it crashed,” Odhiambo said, “it is like they did not balance the weight well and it is unfortunate because eight people are now dead and two have been taken to hospital.

    The Chinese construction company involved, ZJCC later issued a statement confirming the deaths.

    “We are working together with all other relevant agencies to establish the facts that led to the accident,” it said in a statement, “preliminary details established that while decommissioning our tower crane, part of unfortunately collapsed killing nine technicians.”