Nyeri man dies after building collapse at Uhuru Kenyatta's rally in Nyeri

Peter Lomoni, 40, at Karatina Sub-County Hospital on October 16, 2017. He was among the 18 people injured when a building collapsed during a political rally that was addressed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on October 15, 2017. One man died while undergoing treatment. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Many members of the public climbed to the roof of the building to listen to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
  • There were too many people and the building caved in.
  • Eighteen people were injured. Fourteen were treated and discharged.

One person died on Sunday night while three were seriously injured following the collapse of a building at Karatina Stadium in Nyeri County during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaign rally.

Fourteen others were treated for minor injuries and discharged from Karatina Sub-County Hospital.

HEAD INJURIES

President Kenyatta sent his condolences.

"I am saddened by the death of one that occurred after the Nyeri campaign rally. My sincere condolences and a quick recovery to those injured," he said.

Mathira OCPD Mathew Gwiyo said the man succumbed to injuries on Sunday night while receiving treatment.

Mathira East sub-County Commissioner Mr Peter Thiong'o on Monday identified him as Mr George Kabui, a boda boda operator from Konyu ward in Mathira constituency.

Hospital sources said he succumbed to head injuries.

SCAMPERED

The casualties were sitting on the roof of the building when it collapsed as Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu was addressing the crowd.

The rally was temporarily disrupted as a shocked President Kenyatta watched from the dais as supporters scampered for safety.

Police officers and some supporters rushed to help the injured and ensure nobody was trapped in the rubble.

Mr Peter Lomoni, who was injured in the incident, said they were about to climb down from the building fearing it would collapse.

"There was too many of us and we feared it would collapse. As we were about to climb down it caved in," he said.

Additional reporting by Stephen Munyiri.