Second Building Collapses in Kiambu In Days

KIAMBU, Kenya, Sept 3- Construction workers at a site escaped unhurt, after a five-storey building collapsed in Kinoo area, Kiambu County. The building was under construction.

Masons at the site said they had noticed a structural problem on the house and informed the owner, who turned a deaf ear on them.

Those who spoke to Shahidi News said they had noticed a crack on one of the columns on Thursday, prompting them to stop the construction works.

And on Friday, the house bent on one side before it crumbled as locals gathered there to witness the incident.

Police arrived at the scene a few minutes later and cordoned the place as they waited for experts to address the mess.

Officials from the National Construction Authority said the structure will have to be brought down and announced investigations will commence immediately to establish if the law was broken during the construction.

Last week, nine people were killed in Hurlingham area, Nairobi when a crane they were handling crumbled from 14 floor of a proposed hostel. One was injured.

Days later, three other construction workers were killed when a house they were constructing collapsed in Gachie area, Kiambu County.

More than 10 others were injured in the incident. Rescuers took three days to clear the site, where they collected three bodies.

Nairobi and Kiambu are among regions experiencing a construction boom, with most buildings going more than six floors.

There are fears that some of the buildings are being constructed without proper supervision.