Courts impede in building control, Evans Kidero says

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero (in orange cap) in Kware, Embakasi where a building collapsed on June 12, 2017 in this photograph taken on June 13. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Nairobi governor's comment comes in the wake of the collapse of a seven storey building in Kware in Embakasi in the city on Monday night, killing two people and leaving many injured.

  • Addressing journalists during an interfaith meeting at Oshwal Religious Centre, Mr Kidero exonerated his administration from blame.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has said courts are a major impediment in dealing with the rising number of unauthorised structures in the county.

His comment comes in the wake of the collapse of a seven storey building in Kware in Embakasi, Nairobi on Monday night, killing two people and leaving many injured.

Addressing journalists during an interfaith meeting at Oshwal Centre in the city, Dr Kidero exonerated his administration from blame and instead pointed an accusing finger at courts.

They give orders to owners of the affected buildings, thereby preventing the county officers from demolishing their illegal structures, he said.

“We have marked many buildings for demolition but their owners always obtain court orders, blocking us from demolishing the structures.

'FOR DEMOLITION'

“The building that collapsed in Pipeline estate had been marked for demolition but it could not be brought down as the owner had already obtained a court order stopping the move,” said Dr Kidero.

But the county government and police were still on the trail of the owner of the collapsed Pipeline building, he said.

“We are looking for the owner so that he can come to City Hall to give us his side of what happened,” he said.

He also said that more than 50,000 buildings in the city have not been approved, yet they are occupied.

He said county officials would have a meeting with owners of buildings in Pipeline on Friday next week to ensure that they all comply with the law.