Rescue efforts are ongoing following the partial collapse of an eight-story building in Ole Nairi, Oloolua, Kajiado North, on Saturday morning.
According to the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), which has set up an operations center to coordinate the rescue mission, the situation remains critical as one section of the building has already collapsed while the remaining structure is considered highly unstable.
Authorities warned that the unstable structure is complicating rescue operations with four people believed to be trapped inside the building suspected to be construction workers.
Kajiado County Commissioner Michael Yator urged residents living near the site to vacate their homes until the building is safely demolished. He also appealed for patience as government agencies continue with rescue operations.
Yator further warned that those responsible for the construction would be held accountable if found to have violated building construction regulations.
Meanwhile, the NDMU stated that all emergency systems had been activated and a command center established. Engineers are expected to assess the structure and determine the safest way to access the building while minimizing the risk of further injuries, especially to those trapped in the debris.
Jeremy Mosoti, a resident of Ole Nairi, told KNA that residents heard a loud bang at around 1am on Saturday amid heavy rains being experienced in the area.
Mosoti noted that this was the second such incident in the area after another building collapsed last year.
A multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Red Cross, the National Police Service, Kajiado County government, and the National Disaster Management Unit remains at the scene, with search and rescue efforts ongoing.
A section of residents who talked to KNA had raised concerns over the quality of construction at the site.
By Isabella Mike
