Economy

Building under construction near Thika Road collapses

building

Residents mill near the building that collapsed and trapped construction workers on April 2, 2015 behind Thika Road Mall in Roysambu . PHOTO | PETER NGARE |

A multi-storey building under construction near the Thika Road Mall in Nairobi’s Roysambu area collapsed Thursday morning, trapping an unknown number of people.

Four bodies were recovered from the rubble Friday morning with recovery operations ongoing.

The building, intended for residential use, came down at around 10.30am trapping a number of construction workers.

Witnesses said about six to eight people were pulled to safety shortly afterwards but at least ten are believed trapped in the rubble.

Kasarani police chief Francis Sang’ said rescue teams had been called and some were already at the scene.

“We already have the National Youth Service, the Red Cross and some other rescue teams. We are looking for the owner of the building,” he told Nation.

Residents said the four-storey building came up very fast and they had fears that it could come down.

“Since the building and opening of TRM, more than 20 flats come up at a very fast rate. Possible cause of collapse of building,” a resident said.

Kenya Police and National Disaster Operations Centre officials said National Youth Service, Kenya Red Cross, Nairobi Fire Brigade and Kasarani Police officers were at the scene from Thursday morning leading rescue efforts.

Huruma

Nairobi has in the past few months experienced a series of building tragedies, with several lives being lost.

On December 17, a five-storey residential building that was partly occupied and still under construction collapsed in Kaloleni killing seven,

Huruma

Three weeks later, another building collapsed in Huruma killing five people and injuring several others.

Following the disaster, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero suspended 18 county officials in charge of housing, including Chief Officer in charge of Planning, Urban Development and Housing Rose Muema and Mr Jairus Kathenge, who is the Director of Enforcement and Compliance.

Recently, the Nairobi City County government rubbished a report stating that a large number of buildings in the region are not up to the standards.

The report by Questworks, a design and engineering firm, also stated that at least three out four buildings in Nairobi risked collapse in case of an earth tremor.