Four-Story Building Under Construction Collapses in Kiambu
The National Construction Authority (NCA) has launched a probe after a four-story building collapsed in Kinoo, Kiambu County on Saturday night.
NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech says the agency is seeking to establish the circumstances that led to the fall of the building that was under construction.
The probe is being carried out by a multi-agency team comprising of NCA officials, the National Building Inspectorate, and the National Disaster Management Unit.
“Efforts are underway to ensure safety of the adjacent building and the surrounding development is not affected,” said Akech, adding that the site has been cordoned off by police.
The building is leaning on an adjacent multi-storey building that had already been occupied, but tenants were evacuated safely.
Kikuyu sub-county police commander Catherine Ringera said no one was injured during the incident as workers at the site had already left when the building collapsed.
“The building collapsed at night and no deaths or injuries were reported because most of the construction workers who have been working on the building had left for home on Saturday,” Ringera told Nation.
This comes barely six months after three unfinished buildings collapsed in Kiambu in incidents that have put the county’s housing and physical planning department on the spot.
Five people were killed and over 10 others injured after a five-storey building under construction in Gachie caved in last August. The incidents prompted Kiambu Governor James Nyoro to form a task force to evaluate the structural status of buildings under construction within the county.
Comments (15)
Why waste so much money setting up a building but fail to lay the proper foundation? It’s good the whole structure came tumbling down before it hadn’t been occupied.
It's simple: The fallen Grey building is Fortunately leaning on the th Yellowish building. This means they Should just Re-do and Strengthen the Foundation, and Pull the leaning Grey building Back to It's feet.
The so-called investor(who I know) lost nothing as he had looted Moseti’s taxes to construct that building.
He stole all the water he used for the construction
This is a foundation issue. A structure of such weight, 5,6 levels of rock, steel and concrete require a solid rock foundation. This appears not to be the case, with the foundation made to rest on soft red soil, unable to support the weight with the resultant subsidence. Red soil foundation stability is overrated by many homeowners, it may be okay for one or two levels, but certainly not for five or more level commercial structures. Deeper and extra reinforcement is mandatory. My utmost sympathy to the owner.
@Mutuura. As a registered engineer, it always bothers me that someone can invest huge sums of money on such a structure and fail to hire qualified consultants to ensure the building complies with engineering principles. There is a reason that buildings do not just collapse in countries where such procedures are followed. Why invest Kshs 50 - 100 million and not pay a consultant maybe 5-10% and be assured that your investment will be good for a long time.
I do not want to sound callous, but i really do not have sympathy to the owner. There are so many collapses happening in Kenya, and its time people realize buildings, especially multistory ones, should not be constructed by juakali fundis. We know there are processes and procedures that can ensure sound buildings. Hire qualified architects, engineers, contractors, and inspectors to ensure the construction is done properly.
Obviously, corruption within the county government is also a big deal. The building department absconded their duties as it is their responsibility to ensure construction is done per code so as to safeguard life and safety of the occupants.
Very true. Many small time developers do in fact obtain proper designs from architects and engineers but fail to engage them in supervision instead turning to jua kali quacks during the construction process and deceiving themselves that they are saving money. Government and local authority inspectors are a joke, they come around only for the purpose of collecting tips.
Kuhusu mapungufu haya na mengine. Je, kuna taarifa zozote ambazo zimewahi kutolewa kuhusu chanzo cha matukio yaliyopita? Je, ni hatua gani zimechukuliwa kuzuia maafa yasitokee tena? Je, wahusika wamewahi kuadhibiwa?
Another building down and life goes on.
Luckily, this time there were casualties.
CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION.
Mtaka yote hukosa yote. Cutting corners to save money you end up losng everything.
Construction corruption. Even after exit of waititu nothing changed
Kenya’s works minister,Wainaina and Kiambu governor,Karanja must take responsibility and resign.They must also explain how four buildings could collapse in six months in one county-two in Kinoo under their watch.How much did they EAT?RISASI TU.
You ripe what you sow.
Corruption! Corruption!! Uhuru, please make this your last battle and leave a legacy. Too much of it.
A very difficult individual!!