The five-storey building set to be demolished./HANDOUT

The Nairobi government has ordered the demolition of a condemned five-storey building along Mirema Drive, adjacent to Mirema School.

This is after inspectors declared the structure an imminent danger to the public.

The decision followed a joint on-site assessment conducted Thursday morning by the county’s Urban Planning and Compliance Department in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Department and the National Construction Authority.

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A crack on one of the pillars of the building /HANDOUT

Addressing the media at the scene, director of planning and enforcement, Tom Ochar, said the building had developed severe structural cracks and was at risk of collapse.

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“We are here at Mirema Drive next to Mirema School where a five-storey building is on the verge of collapse. After assessing the situation on the ground, we have resolved to bring it down because it is a disaster waiting to happen,” he said.

Ground floor pillars of the storey building with crack signs /HANDOUT

“We gave the owner sufficient time since 2022 to make the building safe, but no corrective action was taken. Today, we have jointly assessed the situation, determined the type of machinery required and we will proceed with the demolition.”

Ochar said the county had followed due process before arriving at the demolition decision, including issuing compliance notices to the property owner over the past three years.

Front view of the five-storey building./Handout

He further underscored the legal obligations of developers and construction professionals, saying the county requires all approved projects to strictly adhere to building regulations.

“As a county, we follow the law. Once construction approval is granted, we ensure the professionals involved sign indemnity forms committing to comply with all regulations. It is critical that professional bodies enforce accountability among their members to avoid such scenarios,” Ochar said.

“If any professional withdraws from a project midway, they must formally notify the county so that we can take the necessary steps.”

The five-storey building along Mirema drive./HANDOUT

The demolition is expected to begin once the required heavy machinery is mobilised to the site. Authorities have assured residents, parents and school management that safety measures will be put in place during the operation to prevent any harm.

The incident once again raises concerns over compliance, supervision and enforcement standards in Nairobi’s fast-growing construction sector, particularly in residential neighborhoods located near learning institutions.