Murang'a Building Collapse: Survivor Rushed to Hospital Dies

One person retrieved from the rubble three days after a four-story building at Sunstar Hotel in Murang’a County collapsed, has died in hospital.

The survivor had been rushed to the Thika Level 5 hospital for specialized medical attention when he succumbed to injuries.

The death toll now rises to six after five more bodies were retrieved.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia speaking in Parliament

File

Speaking during a site visit on Sunday, December 19, Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary James Macharia stated that three individuals were yet to be accounted for.

He was, however, optimistic that the operations would be completed by the close of business on Sunday, December 19. 

Further, the CS regretted the incident, warning developers against a repeat of such an incident.

“We will not want to have a recurrence of this kind of incident because it negates all the good work which has been done...

“Greed should not be the determining factor that you want to build very quickly so that you can start getting returns, it should be the safety of the people who are constructing the building and the people who will use it once it is completed," Macharia stated.

Additionally, the CS announced that the building adjacent to the collapsed one would also be demolished.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is already hunting down all the professionals concerned, both at the National government and at the county level,” Macharia stated.

The four-storey building collapsed on Friday, December 17, at around 1:40 pm while construction was ongoing.

An image of the four storey building that collapsed in Gatanga , Muranga County on Friday, December 18.

KBC