Woman Dies After Building Collapses at Akala Market in Siaya County

A woman has died and several others were injured after a commercial building collapsed at Akala Market in Siaya County, raising fresh concerns about structural safety standards in rural market centres.

The incident occurred when the two-storey structure suddenly gave way. Rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross and local emergency services worked through the morning to extract victims from the rubble.

Siaya County Governor James Orengo ordered an immediate audit of all commercial buildings in major market centres. “This is a devastating tragedy that should never have happened,” the governor said.

The National Construction Authority has launched an investigation and warned that unauthorised structures across Kenyan counties continue to pose a significant public safety risk.