Police ask contractors of collapsed Huruma building to record statements
Kenya Defence Forces and National Youth Service rescue teams at the collapsed building in Huruma on January 5, 2014. CID Director Ndegwa Muhuro asked those involved in the construction of the building to immediately record statements with police. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Muhoro said the director and chief officer in charge of planning, the owner of the building, the architect and the contractor should report to the criminal investigations offices.
- The seven-storey building, situated near Daima Primary School, collapsed Sunday at around 8pm.
- As of mid-morning on Monday, 38 people had been rescued from the collapsed building. However, two people, among them a two-day-old baby, were confirmed dead.
- The Huruma building caved in just two weeks after another one collapsed in Kaloleni, killing seven people and injuring several others.
Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro has asked all the people involved in the construction of the building that collapsed in Huruma to record statements at the Starehe Police Station or face arrest.
Mr Muhoro said the director and chief officer in charge of planning, the owner of the building, the architect and the contractor should report to the criminal investigations offices.
"We are fed up with having to regularly deal with collapsed buildings. Killing people in the name of housing cannot be condoned anymore," Mr Muhoro said.
The seven-storey building, situated near Daima Primary School, collapsed Sunday at around 8pm.
Residents said they had seen cracks on the floors of the building even before they went for Christmas holidays.
One of the tenants, Irene Muthe, said she had decided to move her family from the building after the festive season.
"When I came back, I decided to go look for another house to rent.
"On Sunday, I took my two children to my sister's house and I went with my husband to look at a house that we had found in Pangani.
"We delayed there because we liked the house and we had to clear with the landlord.
"As we were returning, a neighbour called me and said that the house had collapsed," Ms Mutheu said.
DOZENS RESCUED
She did not manage to salvage her property, but unlike some of her neighbours, she was lucky to be alive.
As of mid-morning on Monday, 38 people had been rescued from the collapsed building. However, two people, among them a two-day-old baby, were confirmed dead.
Joint rescue operations conducted by the military, the Kenya Red Cross, the National Disaster Management Unit and the National Youth Service were under way.
Some leaders, among them Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Lands Principal Secretary Mariamu El Maawy and acting Inspector-General of Police Samuel Arachi visited the scene, each condemning the sub-standard manner in which the building was put up.
"We are in the process of scrutinising all buildings in the city to establish whether they are built to the right standards. Those that are not safe will be brought down," Dr Kidero said.
The Huruma building caved in just two weeks after another one collapsed in Kaloleni, killing seven people and injuring several others.
