City

Investigation into Nairobi building collapse

18 Dec, 2014

Seven killed and 14 remain missing

An investigation into a collapsed building in the Kaloleni district of Nairobi has been ordered by the city's governor Evans Kidero.

The five-storey residential building in Makongeni collapsed at dawn on 17 December leading to the deaths of seven people. By the time the rescue mission ended on 19 December, more than ten people were saved but 14 remained missing.

It has since emerged that the Nairobi city council had not authorised the building for residential use. Authorities are attempting to track down the owner who had been constructing a sixth floor on top of the building at the time of its collapse. Officials at the scene were reported ground instability and said the building had been poorly constructed in addition to not having correct documentation.

Residents claimed that there were regular clouds of dust and reverberations in the building prior to its collapse.