This archive report was first published on 17 October 2021.
On Sunday morning, a nine-storey building in OJ area, Ruiru, Kiambu County, crumbled down within seconds, leaving a trail of destruction.
According to eyewitnesses, the building collapsed at 3.00 am, with no one injured in the incident.
The building's collapse brings to three the number of buildings that have collapsed in the county in two months.
Justus Ombati, Ruiru head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, said the scene has been cordoned off, and over 50 families in the neighbouring building have been evacuated.
"We have cordoned off the scene, and over 50 families in the neighbouring building evacuated," Ombati said.
A multi-agency task force, formed by Kiambu Governor James Nyoro, is investigating the safety of buildings under construction in the county.
The task force includes the National Construction Authority, Surveyors of Kenya, and the Board of Engineers in Kenya.
Resident Mary Njambi described the construction site as a disaster in waiting, citing that the building began construction about five months ago in a swampy area.
Another resident, James Maina, initially thought it was an earthquake.
The owner of the building, John Mwangi alias Brownie, claimed to have had all the required approvals before embarking on the construction of the multi-million project.
The incident has put the county Lands, Housing and Physical Planning Department in the spotlight.
Further investigations and audits will be carried out by the Engineers Board of Kenya, National Building Inspectorate, and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Service, according to Margaret Ogaro from the National Construction Authority.
Two other buildings had earlier collapsed in Gachie and Kinoo, with a five-storey building under construction in Gachie collapsing on August 31, killing five people.
Another building in Kinoo partially caved in last month, forcing authorities to demolish it.
