Nairobi News

A five-storey building marked for demolition collapsed in Kariobangi on Tuesday morning.

The Kenya Red Cross reports that the building collapsed near Light Industry.

Nairobi Chief Officer Fire Brian Kisali confirmed that there were no casualties in the incident.

Nairobi’s Chief Officer Lands and Urban Planning Rose Muema told Nairobi News that the building was marked for demolition and had been evacuated. She said City Hall officers are already on the site.

However, Kariobangi South MCA Robert Mbatia refuted the claims that the building had been evacuated and was marked for demolition.

Mr Mbatia said the buidling was completed seven months ago and six tenants had moved in last month.

He said the building developed cracks on Monday forcing the tenants to evacuate immediately.

He said the house was built in a swampy place and that they had raised concerns to the planning department but nothing was done.

Last week the Nairobi County Executive in charge of urban planning Christopher Khaemba told said the demolition of unsafe houses had stopped after the excavator from National Youth Service (NYS) developed mechanical problem and required sh1 million to repair.

Mr Khaemba said that the county had pledged with the national government to facilitate the repairs, with City Hall set to foot the expenses since the demolition exercise was a partnership.

Two privately owned excavators that were hired to assist in the demolition proved too expensive and the contractors later pulled after City Hall delayed payments.

Mr Khaemba said another four-storey building in Mahatima, Kariobangi South, is almost coming down

Tenants of the building were evacuated on Monday night.