Just hours after being arrested, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Friday issued an order regarding a building that collapsed in Tassia Estate, in Embakasi ward, Embakasi East Constituency.
In a statement, Sonko ordered a multi-agency team from his county government to carry out rescue operations at the site of the tragedy.
“I have ordered with immediate effect, investigations into a collapsed building in Tasia area. My people are on the ground to conduct probe and rescue missions,” said Sonko in the statement.
The Governor will, however, spend the weekend in the cells awaiting his arraignment on Monday.
Sonko was arrested over corruption allegations in the county.
The order comes after the building, which reportedly had 46 residential houses, collapsed leaving scores injured, many feared trapped and six reportedly confirmed dead by the time of penning this article.
The exact number of people trapped in the building is yet to be identified but rescue officials belief that more people are still in the rubbles.
The landlord, identified as Mama Kanyoni, was yet to provide tenancy records of the building.
The tragedy comes in the wake of heavy rains that have bedevilled the city with several roads rendered impassable and some residential houses carried away by the floods that are wreaking havoc.
Several buildings in Embakasi were in 2018 demolished for failing to meet the required standards set by relevant authorities.
Besides, nearly two months ago, Precious Talent Academy building collapsed in Dagoretti South claiming lives of 8 pupils.
The incident led to Sonko dismissing 16 officers from his government.
The governor said the tragedy was as a result of “the impunity that was spearheaded by a few rogue officials within the Urban Planning Department.”
Among those suspended included Charles Kerich, the then County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Economic Planning, who was the immediate former CECM for Lands and Urban Planning, Mohammed Dagane – CECM Health Justus Kathenge, County Chief Officer for Urban Planning among others.