A landlord has been ordered to demolish a four-storey building with 20 units in Roysambu.
The one-bedroom apartment in the Kahawa West area, according to the National Construction Authority, has been in occupation for over 10 years.
However, cracks have been observed on the first-floor beams and ground-floor walls, posing a danger to the tenants. Consequently, they were all evacuated from the building.
“Following a public alert on an unsafe building in Kware, Kahawa West, Roysambu Sub- County, a quick intervention by the National Construction Authority and multi-sectoral agencies led to the issuance of an enforcement notice by the Nairobi City County Government.
“Evacuation immediately ensued supported by the National Police Service and the National Government Administration Officers,” a statement from the authority read in part.
Also Read: Owners of 107 Plots in Nairobi Given 30-Day Ultimatum
Orders to the Landlord
According to the authority, the building was also flagged for several structural integrity issues, including failure in Key Load-Bearing Areas.
The ground floor wall and front left corner column exhibited structural failure, with visible cracks compromising the building’s stability.
Additionally, the authority determined that cracks had been observed on the first-floor beams and ground-floor walls.
At the same time, the building had dampness on the balconies of the first floor, indicating water infiltration issues that could weaken the building structure over time.
Consequently, the building owner has been ordered to demolish the building or face action.
“All tenants have been evacuated, and the building cordoned off. Additionally, the building owner has been ordered to demolish the structure failure which will lead to swift action by the Government
“Members of the public and property owners are reminded to prioritize structural safety in residential buildings,” added the authority.
Also Read: Sakaja Gives Update on Collapsed Kahawa West Building
Sakaja on Collapsed Kahawa West Building
In a separate incident on October 21, an 8-storey apartment with businesses and residential units in Kahawa West in Nairobi County collapsed, trapping residents and tenants.
While issuing an update on evacuation, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said that all occupants, including construction workers and two other people, had been accounted for.
Nairobi County Executive for the Built Environment, Patrick Mbogo, also mentioned that the County Government evacuated 100 occupants from the collapsed mixed-use building.
He explained that the building had been condemned by Nairobi County planning officials.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates.
