Public officers working in condemned building in Meru Town asked to relocate
What you need to know:
- Workers said the Public Health Department and the Ministry of Public Works had condemned the building.
- A report says major structural defects and dampness of the offices had exposed workers to upper respiratory tract infections, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and other medical complications.
- When Nation.co.ke visited the premises Tuesday morning, staff members were working in deplorable conditions.
- Crucial documents including identification cards, birth and death certificates were also soaked in water.
Staffs at Meru County’s civil registration service are in a dilemma over where to relocate to after the building they work in was found to uninhabitable.
Workers in the dilapidated building located behind the county government headquarters in Meru Town said the Public Health Department and the Ministry of Public Works had condemned the building.
According to a report from the North Imenti Sub-County Public Health seen by Nation.co.ke, “major structural defects and dampness of the offices had exposed workers to upper respiratory tract infections, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and other medical complications.”
“There is inadequate ventilation; all offices are also conspicuously damp as a result of the penetrating water.
“As a result of these unhealthy working conditions, some members of staff have been treated for conditions related to dampness,” said the report released by the sub-county public health officer Mr Mbae M’Ibari.
When Nation.co.ke visited the premises Tuesday morning, staff members were working in deplorable conditions.
MOULD ON WALLS
The walls have mounds of mould growing on them and some of the offices measuring six by six feet each were occupied by 10 workers and with no proper storage.
Crucial documents including identification cards, birth and death certificates were also soaked in water.
A worker said they moved into the current premises in October 2013 after the previous premises were congested.
“We are exposed to serious hazards with the possibility of this one-storey building collapsing. We are sitting on a time bomb,” said one of the workers who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
RISK OF ELECTROCUTION
Another letter signed by the County Occupational, Safety and Health Officer Jimner Mwangi said: “During our visit, it was noted that there was a risk of electrocution since water leaking from the roof was getting into the building’s electrical connections.”
It further recommends that the situation should be rectified as it is in contravention of Rule 30 of the Electric Power Act.
County Director of Public Health Julius Inyingi said they had given officers in-charge of the civil registration office 14 days to vacate the building failure to which they would be taken to court.
“The building appears to be suited for a go-down and not offices.
"They have two weeks to relocate to suitable premises,” he told Nation.co.ke by phone.
Mr Inyingi said the building housing the Meru County commissioner’s office has also been marked as dilapidated.
