An 18-storey building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, collapsed eight days ago, prompting an investigation into the incident. The National Construction Authority (NCA) listed Stromax Holdings E.A. Limited as the contractor responsible for the project. However, the company's director has distanced himself from the construction work, citing his brother's involvement. The brother, who is not a registered contractor, allegedly asked to use Stromax Holdings' name to obtain NCA approvals.
According to the Stromax Holdings director, his brother requested to use the company's name for NCA approvals, which was granted and confirmed via official NCA emails. This statement has raised questions about the actual contractor responsible for the project. The director's claim has been disputed by his brother, who provided a contrasting account of their involvement in the project. The brother stated that Stromax Holdings engaged him as a labour contractor to supply skilled and semi-skilled workers.
The brother's account suggests that an engineer supervised the works and approved the construction, which has raised concerns about professional oversight before the collapse. Police have recorded statements from more than 20 individuals, including the two brothers and one of three developers. The landowners are yet to testify. The investigation has uncovered that the landowners paid Ksh 1.1 million to Nairobi County for two development applications.
However, the project manager failed to resolve four issues flagged by the county, leaving the application pending on the national planning system. This has sparked concerns about the regulatory processes leading up to the construction project. The investigation is ongoing, with police working to establish the cause of the collapse and potential liabilities.
Rescue operations have recovered the body of a woman from the basement, with DNA testing underway to confirm her identity. A total of 16 people remain missing, and the search efforts are continuing. The incident has raised concerns about building safety and regulatory oversight in Nairobi.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) will likely face scrutiny over its role in approving the project. The authority's processes and procedures will be examined to determine if they contributed to the collapse. The investigation's findings will be crucial in determining the cause of the incident and identifying potential liabilities.
The probe into the Eastleigh building collapse will also examine the involvement of the developers and landowners. The investigation's outcome will likely have significant implications for the construction industry in Kenya, particularly regarding building safety and regulatory compliance.
Key points
- Investigation into Eastleigh 18-storey collapse complicated by conflicting accounts from contractor and his brother.
- 16 people remain missing, with rescue operations ongoing.
- Landowners paid Ksh 1.1 million to Nairobi County for development applications, but project manager failed to resolve issues flagged by county.
