Four people died when a pit latrine under construction collapsed at Chinche Primary School in Nyamira County on Friday evening.
The victims included two workers trapped by the initial collapse and three rescuers who were buried when the soil caved in again during rescue attempts. The project was part of a National Government Constituencies Development Fund initiative at the school in Borabu Constituency.
Residents alleged that an excavator used in the operation struck some of the trapped individuals, though authorities have not confirmed this. One person was rescued with critical injuries and taken to hospital.
Locals attributed the incident to poor planning and warnings about unstable soil that were reportedly ignored. Police and county officials have opened investigations into the cause and the rescue process.