One killed, two missing as floodwall collapses in Kibera – PHOTOS
One person died and two others are missing after being swept away following the collapse of a floodwall in Kibera.
The floodwall, built by Kenya Railways, was erected on the shore of a river stream to channel water away from a housing project.
Kenya Railways is undertaking the housing project under the Relocation Action Plan (RAP) along the railway corridor in Nairobi’s Kibera, Makongeni and Mukuru slums.
Speaking to journalists in Kibera, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said the wall collapsed after heavy rains experienced on Wednesday.
“There is a wall that came down when it rained on Wednesday evening and water passed through some houses and took away three people. One lady was found dead and two are yet to be found,” said Dr Kidero.
SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL
The governor accused the contractor of using substandard material to build the floodwall.
The county government has also stopped construction of the Kenya railway houses in Kibera until investigation on the quality of the work is completed.
Dr Kidero has also ordered the contractor and architect to surrender themselves to City Hall for grilling on the quality and integrity of the construction.
“The county government fire department and disaster management unit are on the ground trying to retrieve the body but we are also appealing to the national government to help in the search ,”said Dr Kidero.