Contractor of building that killed three people in Kisumu arrested

Police in Kisumu have arrested the contractor of the ill-fated two storey building that collapsed on Monday in Mamboleo estate killing three people.

The owner of the building is still at large and police are on his pursuit.

According to police, the contractor, Gilbert Aono, was picked and locked up at the Kondele police station. He is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the three people who died as a result of the collapse have been identified.

The three are Victor Odhiambo aged 29, Florence Odhiambo, 25, and Beatrice Awuor aged 30. Their bodies were moved to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.

The rescue operation was called off last evening with authorities’ saying they believed no one was remaining in the rubbles.

Eye witnesses said workers were on site when the building came down but most of them managed to get away.

They told Citizen Digital that the building had visible cracks on it, hence it was just a matter of time before it came down.

Regional Coordinator of the National Construction Authority (NCA) Eng. Amos Musau said the authority in August 2020 issued the owner of the building with a notice for closure for not adhering to building regulations.