A man died after he was buried alive in Nguluni, Machakos County on Thursday.
The deceased who was not immediately identified died while harvesting sand at Manyanzaani river on the fateful day.
Nguluni chief Miss Virginia confirmed the incident.
She said residents unsuccessfully tried to rescue the deceased immediately the incident occurred.
"After working hard to remove the sand over him, we, unfortunately, found him already dead," Virginia said.
Virginia addressed the press in Nguluni on Thursday.
She said she has been fighting illegal sand harvesting in Nguluni since the Machakos County Assembly passed the Sand harvesting bill-2014 to regulate sand harvesting and quarrying activities in the county.
The law illegalized sand harvesting along the river banks.
"We have been fighting against sand harvesting but it's unfortunate that we have lost him," she said.
The body was removed to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital's mourtuary.
The deceased was married to one wife and a child.
Increased accidents of the same have been reported before in Ukambani with three people dying at River Muvai, Kiongwani in Makueni County in 2017.
In 2015, one person died while another sustained serious injuries after they were burried alive while harvesting sand in River Kaewa, Machakos County.
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