‘Sany’ in Kayole ready to demolish illegal ‘skyscraper’, owner arrested

The owner of a six-storey building under construction in Kayole, Nairobi, that has raised uproar over claims it is unsafe was on Friday arrested by Nairobi County officials.

Caroline Wanjiru was arrested by a team of government multi-agency officials for constructing a building without approvals as Governor Mike Sonko warned constructors to seek genuine approvals.

The narrow building caught the attention of many when a social media user uploaded it wondering if it was safe and how the owner got approvals from City Hall.

“Alert Disaster Dear @MikeSonko How was this APPROVED? This building shld be marked  and demolished How many of such unsafe structures have collapsed resulting in deaths Location: App Bee Centre, Harry’s Tavern, towards Kayole,” tweeted social media user Philip Ogola.

Alert 🚨 Disaster

Dear @MikeSonko How was this 📋APPROVED ⁉️

This building shld be marked ❌ and 🏗️demolished

How many of such unsafe structures have collapsed resulting in deaths❓

Location: App Bee Centre, Harry's Tavern, towards Kayole.

cc @ncakenya @SakajaJohnson pic.twitter.com/mmlk4GuMgX

— Digital Humanitarian (@PhilipOgola) November 22, 2018

After massive backlash, Governor Sonko responded by ordering for the building’s demolition on Thursday night.

“My admin cannot sit back & watch innocent Kenyans trapped in collapsed buildings because of corruption. This morning a multi-agency team led by City Hall officials arrested owner of a condemned 7-storey building in Kayole for building without approvals/ignoring a demolition notice,” tweeted Mr. Sonko.