Nairobi: Nearly 80 People Evacuated As 8-Storey Building Starts To Crack In South B

• Nairobi county politician Rodriques Mulindi said the occupants of the newly constructed apartment were at risk of losing their lives
• The landlord of the crumbling building asked the politician to let the tenants stay as he promised to rectify the contractor's mess
• Mulindi also disclosed that the occupants of the nearby informal structures were also evacuated

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi - 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.

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.

Mulindi reacts after building collapses following evacuation

In a different account, the politician felt joyous after saving numerous lives from a building that collapsed a week post-evacuation.

Mulindi faced criticism from locals and the landlord but remained determined to fulfil his mission based on the evident danger he observed.

He recounted how the residents shifted their opinion after the collapse, praising him as a prophet who saved their lives.

What else you need to know about heavy rains in Kenya

• A senior police officer died after his car was swept by floods in Machakos area
• A kind school owner offered accommodation to travellers who were stranded at Joska Bridge
• Tourism sector in the country has been hit hard as floods swept through major camps

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Nearly 80 families forced to flee as building starts to crack in South B

Nairobi: Nearly 80 People Evacuated as 8-Storey Building Starts to

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