One person died after a five-storey building under construction collapsed in Ogembo Municipality on Tuesday evening, raising fresh concerns over compliance with structural standards and quality of materials used in the rapidly growing town.
The building came down at about 4.30pm, trapping the victim in the debris. Rescue teams worked through the night but were unable to recover the individual alive.
Kisii County Deputy Governor Elijah Obebo, who visited the scene, directed county enforcement and planning officials to establish how the building was approved and whether the developers and other professionals involved complied with construction regulations.
Obebo said preliminary observations at the site raised concerns about the quality of the construction materials, although he emphasised that technical experts would be required to determine the actual cause of the collapse.
“Even by looking at the soil that was mixed with ballast and cement, there are concerns,” Obebo said, urging investigators to establish whether construction standards and procedures had been followed.
He called for legal action against anyone found to have breached construction regulations, saying the government should not wait for buildings to collapse before intervening.
“We cannot allow someone to come and construct a building this big without following the proper procedures,” he said.
Obebo further directed the county planning department and enforcement teams to compile an inventory of ongoing multi-storey construction projects within Ogembo Municipality to facilitate regular inspection and monitoring.
He also called for closer involvement of the National Construction Authority (NCA) in inspecting buildings and ensuring that developers comply with statutory requirements.
The Deputy Governor said enforcement should focus on preventing disasters by guiding developers to comply with planning and construction laws rather than waiting to prosecute them after buildings fail.
Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui said preliminary investigations indicated that the developer had not followed the required procedures before undertaking the construction.
Kirui described the workmanship and materials at the site as “very shoddy” and said police would summon the developer, the person supervising the construction and other individuals involved in approving the project.
“We will carry out very thorough investigation in collaboration with experts from the NCA to ensure that whoever is responsible faces legal action,” Kirui said.
He said the loss of one life was serious enough to warrant firm action, adding that investigators would establish who is culpable for the collapse.
Kirui also acknowledged the rapid response by the Kisii County Government and other emergency teams, who deployed heavy machinery and worked alongside county enforcement officers during the rescue operation.
The Deputy Governor said the county government would also examine whether emergency access had been adequately provided at the construction site, noting that restricted access could complicate rescue operations when buildings collapse.
Obebo warned developers and officials involved in the approval and supervision of buildings that the county would take action against those found to have ignored construction laws.
“We know the law, and action will be taken as required by the law,” he said.
By Misheba Alfred
