By Dorothy Musyoka
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Day, a seven-storey building under construction tragically collapsed in Rongo Town, Migori County.
According to National Construction Authority (NCA), the site had been closed at the time of the incident, sparing many lives, with three casualties being reported.
“The site was closd at the time of collapse, however three casualties, a security guard and two children were injured by the falling debris and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment,” read the statement.
Rescue operations remain ongoing to ensure no additional victims are left unaccounted for.
The project, located had been registered with the National Construction Authority (NCA) under registration number 51625315710072.
The developer responsible for the project was Mr. Daniel Obuya Ooko, with consultations from Arch. Joseph Ralph Odhiambo (A577), Eng. Joel Kireu Wairua (A2699), and Qs. Brian Otieno Oluoch (Q1046). Construction was being handled by Build High Enterprises.
Prior to the collapse, the NCA had flagged the project during a routine quality assurance check, raising concerns about the structural integrity of the building.
Consequently, construction was suspended, and the developer was instructed to produce a structural integrity report before proceeding further.
The NCA has confirmed that a detailed investigation will be launched to identify the exact cause of the collapse.
In a statement, Eng. Maurice Akech, MBS, the Executive Director and Registrar of Contractors at NCA, has vowed to take stern action against any individual found to have defied lawful directives or engaged in malpractice.
“Any person who will be found to have acted in contravention of the law and or defied any lawful directions issued by a competent authority will be subjected to the full force of the law,” the statement read in part.
As rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on recovering any individuals affected and holding parties accountable to prevent future tragedies.