Faulty buildings to be demolished

The ministry of Lands has announced a nationwide crackdown on illegally-constructed buildings in an audit expected to start in a week’s time.

Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said the National Buildings Inspectorate has so far audited 2,601 buildings in Nairobi out of which 226 have been declared structurally unfit  and in need of immediate testing. Four buildings came down on their own and two were demolished at Kahawa West.

The ministry, jointly with the National Youth Service, will demolish two buildings at Mathare Estate.

This came as the death toll following the collapsed Huruma building reached 23. At least 136 people have been rescued. The building collapsed on Friday.

The ministry says the building that collapsed was among those earmarked for demolition when they carried an audit of buildings in the area in February and March, last year.

“The buildings that were suspected to be unsafe were isolated and it was agreed  Nairobi County Government would issue evacuation orders.  I believe this was one of the buildings for which evacuation orders were issued,” says the CS.

The audit in Nairobi has covered several estates.  It started with Huruma then preceded to Umoja, Dagoretti, Zimmerman, Thome Estate, Githurai 44, Garden Estate, Marurui, Mirema, Roysambu, Ngumba and Kahawa West, Baba Dogo and South B.  The team is currently in Nairobi West.

Prof Kaimenyi assured Kenyans that the government will bring down all faulty buildings.

“Owners of buildings that will be found to be defective will be required to demolish them and where they fail comply, the government will step in and carry out the demolition at the owners cost,” says Kaimenyi.