Mwadime flags workplace safety concerns as accidents hit 2,500

EKUWAM SYLVESTER-KNA

The Principal Secretary of the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, has urged employers and workers to ensure that all workplace injuries are reported immediately to facilitate timely redress.

Speaking during the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, the PS expressed concern over workplace safety, noting that Kenya recorded more than 2,500 workplace accidents in the first quarter of the year.

He said the figures highlight both progress made and persistent challenges in occupational safety and health. Mwadime revealed statistics from the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS), indicating that a total of 2,508 workplace accidents were reported by March, 31, 2026.

Out of these, 111 were fatal, representing 4.4 per cent of the total cases. 

The PS pointed out that the statistics marked an increase compared to a similar period in 2025, where 2,501 occupational accidents were recorded, with 93 fatalities accounting for 3.7 per cent.

He noted that in 2025 overall, 10,797 workers sustained workplace injuries, with 430 cases resulting in death — a stark reminder of the risks workers continue to face.

The Principal Secretary described the statistics as a solemn and painful reality calling for renewed commitment to workplace safety.

The participants at the event also paid tribute to workers who have lost their lives or suffered permanent disabilities due to occupational accidents and diseases.

Safety stakeholders emphasized that these individuals were not only breadwinners for their families but also key contributors to national development.

Employers and workers were urged to ensure all workplace accidents and occupational diseases are reported promptly to facilitate compensation and proper intervention under the Work Injury Benefits Act.