- The six-storey building was under construction when it caved in at around 6 pm on Monday.
- John Kamau, a survivor narrated how workers were afraid to raise questions on safety for fear of losing their jobs.
Image: AMOS NJAU
A couple rescued from the debris of the Kirigiti building that collapsed on Monday has been discharged from Kiambu hospital.
The six-storey building was under construction when it caved in at around 6pm on Monday. Five people were confirmed dead while six were rescued.
When the Star visited them at Kirigiti, Hilary Muhuri (father), Esther Gathoni (daughter) and Teresia Wanjiru (mother) said they can’t comprehend what happened as they found themselves in the hospital being attended to.
Wanjiru said her husband and daughter were first to be rescued and rushed to the hospital.
She said her husband has already been discharged.
“There was a loud bang and the next thing that followed were screams from the neighbours but I thank God my family has been saved,” she said.
She said her neighbour Linet Ouma is still in hospital but in good condition and she might be discharged soon.
However, her immediate neighbour only identified as Jacob died alongside his wife.
She said the burial plans for those who died are yet to commence as the identification of bodies is still ongoing.
Wanjiru urged the county and well-wishers to help her rebuild her life by offering her a job to cater to her family.
“We don’t have anywhere to call home. Right now we are being housed by our sister-in-law and urge well-wishers to come to our rescue," she said.
A source intimated to the Star that the county is planning to cater to funeral expenses for those who died, however, it has not yet issued an official statement on the same.
Neighbours and masons working in the building have revealed that they had raised concerns over the cracks on one of the columns but they were dismissed.
John Kamau, a survivor who managed to escape unhurt explained how workers were afraid to raise questions on safety for fear of losing their jobs.
He noted that the building had been earmarked for demolition, but local authorities had not acted on the order.
“The corruption in this country is on another level. Officials from the county frequently visited the site every day to get their kickbacks and overlooked safety measures, we could not talk because we feared being sacked," he said.
He noted that some of the workers who raised any objection were sacked.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on Monday said the county will audit all projects and they will ensure every law in the construction industry is followed.
“Action will be taken against anyone who will be caught violating the set laws because we can’t afford to lose more people," Wamatangi said.
National Construction Authority chairman David Gaitho said more than 80 per cent of all incidents of collapsed buildings in the country were occasioned by poor workmanship.
“Professional misconduct, using unqualified labour, greed for wealth by developers, poor structural design, and weak foundations are also to blame,” Gaitho said.
Wilson Mugambi, president of the Architectural Association of Kenya told the media that the construction industry has been marred with unscrupulous dealings that are compromising the quality of buildings.
"The framework is there to ensure that does not happen, so we have a very big gap, especially at the enforcement level, whereby the scrutiny of who is involved in the project at the design stage and execution is not done well," Mugambi said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)