Chambers of death: 200 city buildings are condemned

Two hundred city buildings, including over 50 in Huruma estate in Nairobi, were condemned in a recent audit by the

Government. And yesterday, two more bodies were retrieved from the rubble of the seven-storey building in Huruma after the tragic collapse on Friday night, raising the death toll to 23.

The buildings deemed too dangerous to live in, that included  the ill-fated Huruma block, were earmarked for demolition after a physical inspection suggested they were faulty, said Building Inspectorate Secretary Moses Nyakiongora.

He added that they had inspected over 2,500 buildings in the city and 200 were found not to meet the required standards.

A five-storey building in Dagoretti Corner was marked for demolition one year ago by county authorities but construction of two more floors is ongoing this month.

Nairobi County Secretary Robert Ayisi told The Standard that he was aware of the Dagoretti Corner building, adding that the matter was still pending in court. He sought more time to get details of the case.

And a special team has been set up to investigate and prosecute those culpable in the approval and construction of the building that collapsed in Huruma.

The team, led by Nairobi's Head of Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Nicholas Kamwende, had by yesterday evening recorded statements from officials of the National Construction Authority, National Environmental Management Authority, engineers at City Hall, surveyors and owners of the building (See separate story).

Yesterday, Mr Nyakiongora explained that preliminary inspection had found the buildings too dangerous to live in.

"We are yet to carry out scientific tests and investigations using equipment," he said.

When asked why the government always did nothing until a building collapsed yet they had the information, he explained that they did not have the legal power to inspect buildings.

Nyakiongora said they relied on executive orders that had to be anchored in law to inspect the buildings and make recommendations on their state.

An officer from KDF with a sniffer dog searches for traces of people trapped on May 02,2016 in between slabs and rubles in a Huruma house that collapsed last week Friday in Nairobi killing over ten people and injuring others. 200 city buildings, including over 50 in Huruma estate in Nairobi, were condemned in a recent audit by the Government. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

"There is, however, a bill in Parliament that if passed and enacted will support the process," he said.

Nyakiongora also noted that demolitions take time, complicated by tenants taking their time to move when ordered to do so.

"An example was when the President gave an order to residents near the ill-fated building to move and they have not done so," Nyakiongora told a press conference in Nairobi.

Through the national government initiative, four buildings have been demolished in Kahawa West and Mathare. One in Ruiru was in the process of being brought down.

Institution of Engineers of Kenya President Michael Okonji assured that action would be taken against any of their members involved in the construction of the ill-fated building.

And the chairperson of the Board of Registration of Architects & Quantity Surveyors, Nathan Kureba, said they were currently working on new laws in the building industry.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Construction Authority Daniel Manduku said there was a problem with old buildings but assured that those currently under construction were being keenly monitored.

The authority has carried out over 2,000 inspection audits, specifically in Huruma, Kayole and Umoja estates. The report, he said, would be out soon.

Mr Manduku asked tenants to always ask for a certificate of occupancy from landlords before moving in.