Punish heavily those responsible for Huruma building tragedy

Yet again, another building has collapsed in Nairobi, leaving in its wake a string of deaths. By late yesterday, police had put the death toll from the Huruma disaster at seven, but there is every indication this could rise given that part of the six-storey building collapsed when it was fully occupied by residents.

This latest tragedy will reignite debate over the shoddy workmanship of buildings in many of the country’s major towns, whose populations have risen rapidly as urban centres grow in tandem with an expanding economy. This expansion, although desired, has often come with drawbacks that sometimes needlessly compromises safety.