Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has provided an update on the collapsed building in Kahawa West.
In his second update regarding the situation on Sunday, October 20, 2024, the Nairobi County boss assured the country that minimal casualties are expected.
Sakaja announced that so far, one lady had been rescued who was injured while outside the collapsed building.
According to the first-term governor, the lady was rushed to hospital and she is currently stable.
“Casualties are expected to be minimal as the building had been condemned and evacuations effected by the Nairobi City County’s Planning Enforcement team. So far, only one casualty has been reported; a middle-aged lady, who was outside the building, was injured by the falling rubble during the collapse. She is currently undergoing treatment and is stable,” Sakaja announced.
Deploys team
Sakaja further stated his Deputy Njoroge Muchiri and other county officials are on site helping with the rescue mission.
Besides sending a team from the county to help in the rescue mission, Sakaja added that his administration had provided the necessary equipment to assist in the rescue mission.
“Nairobi City County and Multi-Agency rescue teams continue search and rescue operations at the site of the collapsed building in Kahawa West. All required equipment has been assembled and mobilised,” Sakaja’s statement posted on X read in part.
In his first statement, Sakaja confirmed that the collapse of the housing unit in Kahawa West area plot no. 233, along Station Road.
However, he indicated that tenants had been evacuated as the building had been condemned.
“Currently, all Nairobi County Teams are fully engaged in disaster recovery and evacuating occupants from adjacent buildings,” Sakaja said.
“Households had been evacuated last week following notice by the County Planning Department. Subsequent situation updates to follow.
“Occupation of the same was without development permission and occupation certificate from Nairobi City County, i.e dangerous building,” the notice reads in part.
Residents had detected the weakness in the building and had mobilised residents to evacuate. They even recorded videos of the seven-storey tumbling.
A video showed the residents warn those near there to move away moments before it came down amid screams.
