Preliminary investigations by the National Construction Authority (NCA) show that the ten-storey building in Mirema, Nairobi County which collapsed on September 24, tumbled because of poor structural concrete used during construction.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech faulted the contractor maintaining that the agency will conduct a detailed investigation in the coming days to get to the bottom of the matter.
“Any person who will be found to have acted in contravention of the law or defied lawful directions issued by a competent authority will be subjected to the full force of the law,” Akech warned.
The agency also revealed that an adjacent building was damaged after the collapse. However, NCA did not reveal the extent of the damage and whether it will necessitate evacuation.
A vehicle and Kenya Power infrastructure were also damaged during the incident.
Nonetheless, NCA's statement also pointed out that despite the collapse, the building's owner had acquired all the necessary documents before proceeding with construction.
Akech also revealed that the building owner applied and received all the necessary permits and licences from Nairobi County and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The statement also pointed out that although the building under construction was 10 storeys, the owner had actually received approval to erect a 12-storey residential building.
This came after the building located in Mirema, Roysambu collapsed on Sunday, an incident which reignited the conversation on building standards in the country.
No casualties were reported from the incident.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has already initiated a crackdown on substandard buildings within the city over concerns on building standards.
"Do not try to save Ksh200,000 or Ksh1 million while using cheap materials and end up losing your Ksh50 million building," the governor warned contractors on September 11.
