As if to mock the tough talk from construction regulatory authorities following Tuesday’s collapse of a building under construction at Kasarani, Nairobi, yet another structure collapsed in Ruaka, Kiambu, early this morning.
The six-storey building is said to have come down at around 3.00 a.m., collapsing over a neighboring residence and trapping a couple. Recovery is ongoing.
In the Kasarani incident, a high-powered Government team comprising Lands Cabinet Secretary Zacharia Njeru, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech and Engineers Board of Kenya Registrar Margaret Ogai visited the site and condemned the developer for flouting building regulations. Eng. Akech revealed that construction had been stopped by his Authority earlier over non-compliance but apparently the developer was hell-bent on proceeding. “Even this morning, our people were at the site and warned workers to clear from the building but it appears some went back after the warning”, he said.
Governor Sakaja demanded that the developer be charged with murder over the three deaths reported by last night.
At Ruaka, a witness told the press that the building had been going on without proper supervision. He claimed he had not seen any professionals on the site and that the developer was carrying out the construction with artisans only.
It remains to be seen what can be done to control the runaway flouting of the building code even as authorities engage in what looks like fire-fighting.
