Tenants living in a five-storey building in Ruiru, Kiambu county were on Sunday, November 20 evacuated after the flat showed signs of collapsing.
It was a hive of activity as occupants of the condemned building rushed against time to salvage their belongings.
The five-story building is said to have developed cracks forcing Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi to lead in the evacuation exercise.
The governor ordered everybody to vacate within forty five minutes with fire engines and emergency already at the scene.
“If you have removed your belongings from the building I don’t want to see you going back. In forty-five minutes everybody should be done as we are going to cordon off the building,” he ordered.
As a precautionary measure, Wamatangi further asked occupants of neighbouring houses to also vacate.
“We are asking those in houses next to the condemned building to move immediately,” Wamatangi was heard making the announcement through a public address system.
Crowds of people milled around to witness the unfolding events, with owners of transport vehicles cashing in on the situation. Pickups loaded with personal belongings were seen leaving the scene.
Police officers were also present to maintain law and order as the evacuation continued. They also on standby to protect property and thwart any looting plan by those who wanted to take advantage of the situation.
The building seemed to be fully occupied with business operators dominating the ground floor.
The events came barely days after a building collapsed in Kasarani and Ruaka, where lives were lost.
Responding to Ruaka’s incident, Wamatangi disbanded the committee responsible for approving the construction of buildings in Kiambu.
In Kasarani, which is in Nairobi county, Governor Sakaja also restructured the Urban Planning Technical Committee.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE