Alarm Raised On Cracks On Uthiru Building Before It Collapsed At Night

Concerns emerged among tenants of the apartment building in Mountain View Ward, Uthiru, Nairobi as part of events that culminated in the building's collapse on Tuesday, May 7.

One tenant who spoke to the media reported noticing cracks in the building earlier that day and raising the issue with the landlady as late as 5 pm.

However, the landlady would respond with a message sent to the tenants' WhatsApp group with an assurance from the engineer that the building was safe. This was after he carried out inspections on the ill-fated building.

She would however express concern that the heavy rains had affected backfilling soil which sipped into the floor.

Five-storey building collapses in Uthiru on May 7, 2024. /STACY ODHIAMBO

“Hi All. Engineer Chege has inspected the building and stated that the building is safe. Due to the heavy rainfall, backfilling soil has soaked through, thus causing the floor breakage. I am concerned for all of us and would not wish for anything wrong with our building. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have any concerns," the message read in part.

The landlady would later reveal that she had secured the services of another engineer to verify the issues surrounding the building. The engineer was to arrive the following morning.

“I’ve booked another Engineer to give us a second opinion. He will be here at 8 am on Wednesday, May 8.”

The five-storey building collapsed on Tuesday evening, prompting a swift response from emergency personnel. 

Fortunately, all 34 residents were safely evacuated, according to Nairobi County Chief Officer, Disaster Management & Coordination, Bramwell Simiyu.

"Earlier concerns about four missing residents, including a 10-year-old girl, have been cleared. The building was sinking slowly, and all the residents were able to jump out and manage to exit the building," Simiyu's late-night update in a statement to newsrooms read in part.

The cause of the collapse remains undetermined, as a thorough investigation is expected to commence today. It came amidst heavy rains and flooding affecting the capital city, raising concerns about potential contributing factors.

The county government mobilized specialized equipment for the scene, while police, led by OCPD Kivinda Kilonzo, secured the area. 

Inconsistencies existed regarding the number of located occupants from the building collapse. While some officials maintain all 34 residents have been accounted for, others reported continued difficulty accessing the ground floor. 

To augment search and rescue capabilities, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Disaster Response Battalion also deployed personnel with specialized expertise to the scene on Wednesday morning.

This incident underscores the critical importance of robust building safety regulations and resident vigilance. 

Aftermath of a five-storey building that collapsed in Uthiru, Nairobi County on May 7, 2024. /FACEBOOK