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Shock as Sh730m Everest Park Apartments develops cracks


Mortgage financier Shelter Afrique is facing huge losses after the structural fitness of housing units worth more Sh730 million was put into question by the National Construction Authority (NCA).

The NCA on Monday started carrying out a structural audit of Everest Park Apartments phase I, a residential housing estate in Athi-River that has about 242 units.

The estate was developed with financing by Shelter Afrique.

Engineer S.K Mwaguri of the National Building Inspectorate in the Lands ministry says the evaluation will establish whether the houses, some of which are already sold out, are safe for occupation.

The housing units are priced at between Sh2.6 million and Sh5.5 million each based on their size.

MIXED DEVELOPMENT

The second phase of the Athi River-based mixed development comprising one to three bedroom units is under construction at a cost Sh755 million.

“The inspection will take about 10 days. We will then get in touch with the consultant who supervised the work to propose solutions to remedy whatever is defective for approval,” said Mr Mwaguri.

The building’s window frames on the canopy are deflated and the window panels are broken.

There are also massive cracks from the foundation to the walls. The electrical cables are also too close to wet areas near the water tanks, which could lead to electrical faults.

There is also dampness visible on the foundation walls and the surface of the wall appears rough, flaky and pitted. “This can be rectified by strengthening the foundation,” he said.