Tenants evacuated after 5-storey building develops cracks in Ruiru

Tenants in a five-story building in Ruiru town were forced to evacuate on Sunday after the apartment developed cracks.

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi led the operations, flanked by Kiambu County Firefighters, after receiving reports from the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the Ruiru OCPD that a house had developed cracks.

The county boss, speaking in the aftermath of two house collapses in Kirigiti and Ruaka that killed seven people, said the Ruiru House had teetered after its columns cracked and was leaning on an adjacent house where residents had also been told to evacuate.

“Hii nyumba ni hatari sana vile ilivyo, haiwezi tena kukalika kwa vile columns zake zote ambazo zinafaa kushikilia zimecrack (sic)zote,” Governor Wamatangi told the media on Sunday. 

“…Hii Nyumba haiwezi kusima kwa muda mrefu vile ilivyo, actually kama haingekuwa nyumba nyingine ambayo imeishikilia sahii hiyo nyumba ingekuwa chini,” 

Several photos obtained by Citizen Digital on Sunday showed residents of the ill-fated house shuffling to and from the house in an attempt to salvage what they could before county and security officials cordoned off the apartment.

Meanwhile, Governor Wamatangi, armed with a megaphone, stood propped up on one of the fire engines, urging residents to leave the building as soon as possible.

“Wenye moko kwa hiyo nyumba tunawapatia 45 minutes mkuwe mmetoa kila kitu ….” Governor Wamatangi told the residents via a PA system on Sunday. 

“Kila mtu atoe vitu vyake haraka iwezekanavyo, in 45 minutes mkuwe mmetoka nje,” 

Governor Wamatangi said his government acted quickly to avert a disaster, amid reports that the building housed more than 200 people.

Residents in buildings surrounding the ill-fated house were also affected, with Governor Wamatangi stating that they would have to evacuate and stay away from the area until officials give the all-clear.

To avert a crisis, Governor Wamatangi announced on Sunday that his administration will conduct a countywide inspection of all houses.

According to him, all houses that are deemed unfit for habitation will be closed down or demolished based on expert assessment.