Amid the fall, comes a selfless act of kindness

tebs view building on its knees

It has been been 3 days since the mighty fall of tebs view building in Kericho. Tebs view is made up of 4 and 3 storey buildings, it sits at heart of kericho's most affluent neighborhood and a home to over 200 occupants with families.

And on the evening of Tuesday 9th, nothing could prevent the 3 storey building from coming to it knees at around 7.30 pm bringing with it properties worth billions. The occupants had been given prior warning by the the building itself on Sunday when it began showing big cracks and leaning forward, but it is in our nature as kenyans to trade lightly even on issues concerning  lives.

With the curfew time extension by the president, this helped alot as most occupants of the 3 storey building were still about their businesses in town and only a few of them who were inside managed to escaped unarmed except for a small number nursing injuries at the hospital.

The Kenya Red Crossross Kericho branch team led by Siphia Tuwei and the county government of kericho were first on the scene after a phone call to Red Cross by one of the tenants of tebs view.

Red Cross Kericho branch boss Siphia with county OCPD, County commissioner and police officer. 

It was all hands on deck for the team that began evacuation, psychosocial and mental support and saving lives of those trapt by the cavings of the building. With the heavy down pour that night the rescue operations was called off at 1.30am after the body of a young boy was discovered, may his soul rest in peace.

On Wednesday a joint task force comprising of the Kenya Red Cross Kericho branch, county askaris, the Kenya Defense Forces Disaster response unit (DRU), county commissioner and the police began rambling through the debris, offering counseling services to the affected, contact tracing,mourning with the bereaved, and Manning the property against theft.

counselling session

Seeing how tired and selfless the teams are working, A.I.C women group of kericho began preparing refreshments for them and for the residents of tebs view, they made tea, porridge and distributed bread, heko to them and may their Wells never run dry.

A.I.C team offering refreshments

As the day came to an end, properties worth saving had been identified, residents asked to move out to safer residences and all persons accounted for. The whole building has since been closed by NBI/NCA

property identification.

The incident of this nature is the first in kericho county, not only has it made us appreciate life but also more equip to handle it. Today we sleep with our hearts full for this selfless act from everyone is enough to carry us through to the next day.