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| Nairobi residents evacuated from a sinking building |
As Kenya grapples with the tragic loss of lives due to heavy rainfall, tension escalated in the South B area as cracks appeared in an eight-storey building. Nairobi politician evacuates almost 80 people from a dangerous building in South B (Picture for illustration). Situated in a swampy area and accommodating nearly 80 families, the structure began showing alarming signs of collapse. In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Rodriguez Mulindi, Governor Johnson Sakaja’s protocol officer, detailed the swift evacuation efforts undertaken to safeguard the lives of the endangered families and other tenants in adjacent buildings. “When I found that the building was cracking, I had no option but to swiftly evacuate them. The building had eight floors and housing nearly 80 families. And worst of all it is swampy area and about a few kilometers from Ngong River. I am happy they heeded my advice and left, including those who had occupied the mabati structures around the building,” he said. Why was the South B building cracking? Mulindi disclosed that the landlord implored him to leave the tenants behind, promising to rectify the structural issues, attributing the building’s instability to improper construction by the contractor.”The building was slowly returning to its original position because there were mistakes made during the construction where certain supports were not installed correctly. They are now working to fix the issue without endangering the safety of the people living in the building,” Mulindi echoed the landlord’s sentiments. He stressed that the structure was still under development at the time of evacuation. Mulindi urges caution amid heavy rains He urged Kenyans to exercise caution, particularly during the rainy season, emphasising that risking lives to appease landlords only exacerbates the peril. Mulindi lamented that such buildings’ occupants often sympathise with the owners, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and accountability in ensuring public safety. “The building was still under construction even at the time of evacuation. People were rushing to occupy the houses immediately after they were completed. The problem we have with most settlers in such areas is that they tend to sympathise with the landlord rather than prioritise their lives and that of their beloved families.
by Nancy Odindo