Tenants of a 10-storey apartment block near Kabiria Road in Riruta Satellite, Dagoretti South, have left their homes over fears the building is unsafe. Citizen Digital reported that a loud bang on the seventh floor first raised concern. Tenants then found a huge crack on one of the walls. The Star reported that 156 tenants were evacuated.
Tenants called Riruta Police Station and Nairobi City County officials. Police and county enforcement officers inspected the building and the visible cracks. They then ordered everyone out while they carried out further assessments.
The evacuation left tenants rushing to move their belongings, Citizen Digital reported. Some had to leave household items behind as they looked for somewhere else to stay. Police officers are now guarding the building.
In an enforcement notice, Nairobi City County described the property as a dangerous and ruinous permanent structure. The notice lists it as Nairobi Block 66/7880 in Riruta Ward, with 10 levels of occupation. It was issued under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act No. 13 of 2019 and county by-laws.
The county alleges the building does not comply with the planning law, the Building Code 2024 and other regulations. It says the building went up without the required planning permission. The notice was signed on behalf of the Director of Planning Compliance and Enforcement and served on Saturday.
The county has ordered all occupants out immediately and the structure removed. It warned that if the owner fails to comply, it could take enforcement action and recover the cost as a civil debt. The sources do not name the owner or say whether the owner has responded.