A man died after an ongoing construction collapsed on their rented house in Buruburu, Nairobi, on Wednesday.
Karanja Waganjo, 50, succumbed at Mama Lucy Hospital where his wife Anne Nyokabi, 48, is admitted in critical condition following the incident that occurred at 7.30am.
Buruburu police boss Adamson Bungei said the two were having breakfast at their house in Mowlem Estate along Kangundo Road when the incident occurred.
“A wall of a storey building under construction fell on the victims’ rented house,” Bungei said.
He said the owner of the building was extending the floors.
“Some of the construction materials had been moved from the first to the second floor. The owner of the collapsed building wanted to extend a wall on top of the roof. The materials absorbed water due to heavy downpour leading to the incident,” Bungei said.
The police boss spoke to the press at the scene hours after the incident.
Two children of the victims' escaped unhurt. They were in a separate room, Bungei said. He said they are investigating the incident.
The body was removed to Mama Lucy Hospital mortuary.
Police are looking for the woman who owns the building, the police boss said.
They will ascertain whether the building was under construction without the necessary approval from relevant authorities, he added.
Residents of the four-story building said the construction had stalled for some time.
They said they suspected the woman had colluded with certain authorities to continue the construction of other floors without considering the residents’ safety among other regulations.
They urged the state to be vigilant on such investors to avoid more deaths.
Edited by R.Wamochie
