Death toll in collapsed building rises to 21 as more than 65 still missing

The eight bodies were pulled out of the rubble by military personnel, who used a drill to cut through the debris. (Photo: Elvis Ogina/Standard)

Eight more bodies were retrieved from the debris of the collapsed building Sunday, raising the death toll to 21.

Authorities said 65 people were still missing after the Friday night tragedy of the seven-storey building in Huruma, Nairobi. The eight bodies were pulled out of the rubble by military personnel, who used a drill to cut through the debris.

One person died at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) while undergoing treatment.

Police officers were manning the scene of the tragedy and the public had been barred from accessing it due to slipperiness of the place that has only one access route.

Some relatives and friends camping at the scene with hopes of finding their loved ones alive had already submitted photographs of the missing persons to the Kenya Red Cross officers too enable them identify those removed from the debris with ease.

Families that identified their loved ones were taken by Red Cross officers to Huruma CDF Social Hall for counselling.

Kennedy Koech, a doctor at KNH, where 71 victims were treated, said 12 are still admitted at the facility.

“About nine of them with fractures are scheduled for further treatment but have all received preliminary treatment and are stable,” said Koech.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Prisca Nduku, a victim, writhed in pain as she tried to sit up and give an account of what happened.

She said she was in her house on the third floor when she heard noise on the ground floor about the building having cracks.

“I was curious, thus rushed to the ground floor with my baby and that’s when I heard some noise and the building fell on me and my baby,” said Nduku.

She continued: “Parts of the debris had completely covered my legs but a block barricaded my upper body and my baby from being completely crushed.”

Nduku was rescued after two hours and rushed to hospital.

“I cannot feel my legs, they are numb,” she said amid tears, adding: “But I thank God for keeping me and my baby alive.”

She said she was living in a single room together with her four-year-old baby and husband, who had not returned home when the building collapsed.

Her baby is also receiving treatment in the children’s ward at the hospital.

Julius Oduor, another victim, is nursing a fractured arm. He said he was watching news when his older son called out asking what was going on.

“Seconds later, I heard the building trembling and a loud noise and before we knew what was going on, the house started sinking,” said Oduor.

His hand was buried while his eldest son was stuck between the dining table and the wall.

It was after five hours that they heard noise outside and called for help. They were rescued and rushed to KNH, where they are both receiving treatment.

Sunday, Cabinet secretaries Sicily Kariuki and Eugene Wamalwa visited the hospital.

“I was at the site Sunday and realised that most of the victims were mainly the youth and women,” said Kariuki. Wamalwa said there was need for both the county and national governments to ensure buildings constructed near river banks were demolished. Meanwhile, Nairobi county government has handed out a donation of Sh2 million for the victims. Speaking in Huruma Sunday, Kidero said the money would be used to cater for burial arrangements, hospital bills and other logistics.

Crack whip

He said the county would crack the whip on those responsible from Wednesday.

“These are people’s lives and we cannot do business with them. If any of my county workers is found responsible in any way, he or she should be prepared to face the music,” he said.

Apparently, the seven-storey building was put up five metres next to Nairobi River, which is a reserve for the county. Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke had said earlier the building had no approval from the county.

But Kidero, who was accompanied by ODM leader Simba Arati, was accused of being reluctant to take action.

Arati, who is the MP for Dagoretti North, warned the governor that his reluctance to act will cost him dearly.

“Let him fail to take action and see what will happen. Personally, I will round up youths to demolish all illegal constructions in my area. We can post bail for ourselves in court later but cannot replace someone’s life,” said Arati.

However, Kidero defended himself, saying it was not time to shift blame and play politics over the disaster. He added the same politicians pushing him to take action are the ones going under to fight him when he takes action.

He recalled that in 2015 when his team set out to demolish buildings, a certain politician set goons on them.

“The same year, a certain Nairobi politician called State House and the demolition was stopped. Look at what has now happened. Politicians need to stop playing politics with people’s lives,” said the governor.

Kidero said 135 people had been rescued. He said dozens of families living in condemned buildings in Huruma had moved out over safety concerns. National Disaster Management Unit’s Pius Masai asked for patience, noting the rescue process was slower as the building could only be accessed from one route.

-Additional reporting by Lonah Kibet