Blame game over Kisii building that killed eight

A close up picture of the construction steel building rods that were used in the construction of the Kisii building that collapsed on Thursday last week killing eight people. Experts have raised questions on the quality of the material used in the construction and the capability of the engineers who were supervising the construction. (Photo Eric Abuga/Standard)

Various State agencies charged with overseeing construction of houses are pointing fingers at each other over a building collapse which killed eight people.

And as families who lost their loved ones prepare to bury them and as doctors battle to save lives of 44 people who were injured, it has now emerged that the buildings neighbouring the collapsed one are not safe as they all sit in a water catchment.

The Standard has also learnt that some of the buildings are owned by rich and politically well-connected individuals.

Police and National Construction Authority (NCA) are on the spot as the owner of the collapsed building is still at large, a week after the tragedy.

Meanwhile, all government agencies mandated with supervision of construction have pleaded their innocence over the tragedy.

Yesterday Kisii County Commissioner Kula Hache and County Criminal Investigations Officer Justus Burudi said the private developer was supposed to report to their officers by yesterday.

Mr Burudi said they had been assured by the legal team representing the developer that he would report to their officers once he gets out of hospital.

But questions are being asked why the authorities allowed construction of a 10-storey building in an area considered a water catchment amid fears that more houses in the location could collapse.

The site is swampy and some experts say any building built beyond three storeys there has high chances of collapsing.

On Tuesday, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia told the National Assembly's Transport, Public Works and Housing Committee that it is the work of county governments to approve building plans and inspect construction.

Macharia said the approvals indicate the building was supposed to have five floors. "The county government officers watched as the contractor put up to 10 floors," he said, adding that the main problem is enforcement.

However, Kisii Governor James Ongwae said his government is not to blame for the collapse. "It is disgusting that Mr Macharia wants to pass the buck unnecessarily. This is the second time that the CS is doing that and I take such statements with great exception," said Mr Ongwae.

Ongwae said he has formed an inter-departmental task force to probe the incident. "What we are lacking as county governments is finer details on training and skills. The national government has a mandate and billions to train personnel. It is their role to apprehend the owner of the building because part of their function is co-ordination," he said.

NCA says it issued stop orders to the owner of the building twice but they were ignored.