A four-storey building under construction collapsed in Kikuyu town, Kiambu county, on Tuesday night.
Two casual labourers who were living in the building escaped unhurt.
According to neighbours, the house collapsed at 1am and leaned on another.
“The sound of the collapse on our building made us suspect it was an earthquake since it was raining,” said Nancy Wanjiru, a tenant of the neighbouring building.
The fire brigade officials were called in and rescued the workers who were trapped inside their houses as the doors could not open.
“They were screaming for help, but when the fire brigade officials broke the doors and opened for them, they run away from the scene. We didn’t go back to the house again for fear that ours might collapse as it was supporting the other one,” Wanjiru said.
Kenya Power engineers arrived shortly after and disconnected electricity in the building.
Neighbours said the building was put up in the rains without being allowed to dry.
An engineer, who didn’t want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said they were investigating the materials used, the plan and what caused the collapse.
“We shall come up with the way forward, but the building will be demolished all together. The building supporting it will also be inspected to establish whether the tenants are in danger or not,” the engineer said.
Kikuyu deputy county commissioner Elias Kithaura said engineers from the county government and police are investigating the incident.
He urged the engineers to inspect all buildings under construction in Kikuyu and Kabete constituencies.
“No tenant should be allowed to live in a house even if it is complete until it is inspected by the building engineers and given a clean bill of health,” Kithaura said.
He said police are looking for the contractor to record a statement that will help them in the investigations.
The casual labourers rescued did not go back to collect their belongings from the two rooms they were staying in.
