Tenants asked to evacuate after 5-storey building develops cracks in Roysambu

Nairobi county through the National Construction Authority (NCA) has ordered tenants of a five-storey building in Mirema Drive, Roysambu to vacate.

In a letter dated November 28, the occupants of the said building were asked to evacuate with immediate effect after the apartment started developing cracks.

On November 20, Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi led an emergency evacuation from a 6-storey building in Ruiru that started to develop cracks and was said to be sinking.

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who arrived at the scene, ordered occupants to evacuate within 45 minutes and those in neighbouring premises to move out too.

“We shall cordon off the building once people evacuate, and one will be allowed in,” the governor said.

The residential-cum commercial flat opposite the Ruiru police station had more than 200 occupants, some of whom are police officers.

Residents said that huge cracks appeared on the ground walls and second floors around lunchtime, making them raise the alarm as people started rushing out with their belongings.

It was also reported to have begun sinking on one side, with some windows and doors failing to open or close.

Poor quality construction works coupled with the use of substandard steel and cement have also been pointed out as largely responsible for the collapse of weak buildings, an illegality that has made many contractors overnight millionaires at the expense of occupants.

Reports about past incidents of buildings collapsing in Kiambu reveal that majority of the occurrences are not satisfactorily prosecuted by the county and in courts of law, a status quo that has been blamed for encouraging developers to thrive in the lawlessness.

Most of the buildings luckily collapse before occupation pointing to serious structural and design improprieties that have left developers struggling to repay loans that would have otherwise been repaid by the building occupants once complete.

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