The National Construction Authority (NCA) on Wednesday revealed the findings of the preliminary investigations into why the building in Uthiru came tumbling down on Tuesday.
According to the government agency, the building’s ground floor columns buckled causing the ground and first floor to sink.
Further, the Authority revealed that the ground floor tenants use to park their vehicles and the first floor were sandwiched by the upper floors.
In its statement, NCA further revealed that the upper floors, despite the collapse, were not extensively damaged like the ground and first floor.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the ground floor columns failed by buckling, which led to the ground floor (utilised as parking) and the first floor being sandwiched by the upper floors, which were still intact,” the statement read.
Further, the Authority confirmed that a multi-agency team was onsite to manage the situation, ensure safety and clear the rubble.
NCA also stated it was in the process of initiating a plan for the safe demolition of the remaining part of the structure.
The Authority, however, stated that a detailed investigation would be conducted in the coming days to determine the actual cause of the collapse.
Additionally, the Authority explained that more details of the incident would be issued in due course.
The building collapsed on Tuesday evening at around 7:30P.M prompting the evacuation of 34 individuals.
No casualties were witnessed and all the tenants were accounted for on Wednesday morning.
The ill-fated building is located along Naivasha Road, opposite the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Dagoretti South Sub County, Nairobi County.
