3 killed when 7-story building collapses in Kenyan capital

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Three people were killed Wednesday in Kenya when a seven-story building that was under construction collapsed in the Kasarani area Tuesday in Nairobi.

“This is murder!” said Nairobi’s Governor Johnson Sakaja, who visited the scene of the accident. He said the tragedy was caused by corruption and impunity in the sector and offered condolences to affected families and promised support.

Sakaja said he would ensure that changes are made in the technical committee of approval in Nairobi.

“We have already retrieved the bodies of the deceased including that of a young woman who was selling food to the construction workers,” he said.

Sakaja added that the developer will be charged in court for disregarding a notice to stop construction and for using substandard building materials. He said the developer did not have a building permit from Nairobi county offices.

“He needs to be charged with murder because that is murder,” he added.

The Kenyan capital has witnessed frequent building collapses in recent years, with the government blaming the deaths on corrupt Nairobi county officials who take bribes and ignore mandatory inspections.

Such buildings are constructed by unqualified laborers with substandard materials and poor structural designs.

In 2019, 42 people died in Nairobi after a six-story building collapsed. From 2019 to 2022, dozens have died in separate accidents of collapsed buildings in Kenya, which have been blamed on poor workmanship.