Senator Sonko wants county to pay families of Huruma victims

Not all the unsafe buildings in Huruma will be demolished, the government has announced, even as Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko Mbuvi plans to sue the county government for negligence following a building collapse in the area on April 29 that claimed 51 lives.

Mr Sonko said he had hired six lawyers as he sues the county government on behalf of families of victims so they can be compensated.

“All these lives have been lost due to the negligence and laziness and the authorities must be made to pay. In fact, the county government has already admitted liability and fired some officials,” said the senator.

Mr Sonko defended residents against a declaration by the county government that they ought to have checked with it on whether the building was fit for habitation.

Separately, Public Works PS Paul Mwangi said 12 of the 70 buildings marked for demolition were “salvageable” and a committee had been set up to look into ways to make them safe.

“If there is a way some of the buildings can be strengthened, even if through additional reinforcement, then it makes more sense to take that option,” Mr Mwangi said yesterday.

The PS seemed to slow down after his declaration last week that demolitions would go on even if property owners obtain court orders to stop them.

“This time, we have to demolish them, whether they move to court or not, because we keep losing people,” Mr Mwangi said last Tuesday.

He said some buildings could be made safer through reinforcements to key sections of the structure, following consultations, even as the end of the seven-day grace period next week draws closer.

The PS held consultative meetings at the National Youth Service headquarters to discuss the deterioration of the construction industry.

Mr Mwangi said a second committee would be set up to advice on the best way to move residents from buildings that are set to be demolished.

“We are waiting for reports from the two committees on what buildings must come down and which ones can be saved,” said the PS.

LEGISLATION

 The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) wants the government to enact the Built Environment Bill to strengthen the regulatory framework in the construction sector and  prevent buildings from collapsing.

Surveyors also wants all those involved in the collapsed Huruma building to be investigated and held responsible if found to have broken the law. 

In a statement, ISK asked county governments to evacuate and demolish all buildings deemed unsafe to reduce deaths, injuries and loss of property caused during collapse due to structural failure.

ISK further wants the ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission to revoke ownership documents of all land in wetlands to prevent environmental degradation.

The government, in 2009, set up a committee to come up with a Bill to review existing laws on construction and to update outdated building code and county by-laws.