Nairobi: Abandoned construction sites posing a threat to city residents

“Some of the abandoned sites have dug out foundations already covered in vegetation, but which have not been fenced off to prevent accidents,” says Davis Samba who resides in Embakasi. 

“You will find that some of the incomplete buildings have dangerous metals and concrete jutting out of the ground. This poses great danger to residents walking at night, especially children,” adds Samba.

James Mwangi, a resident of Kayole, told Wananchi Reporting that his seven-year-old son tripped and fell face first at an abandoned construction site, and sprained his leg.

“My son was very lucky, a piece of metal protruding from the ground almost pierced his thigh. It could have been worse, said Mwangi. 

There is also concern among the residents that some of the abandoned buildings are being used by criminal as hideouts – from where they waylay residents at night, making the estates unsafe.

In most estates also, residents and businesses have turned the abandoned structures into giant garbage bins – which pollute air in the neighbourhood thereby posing a health risk to residents. 

“The garbage has made living conditions in some of the states quite deplorable,” said Mwangi.

John Ngugi, a caretaker in Nairobi told Wananchi Reporting that sometimes it becomes very difficult to attract and retain tenants because of the garbage.

According to Ngugi, some of the houses have been lying abandoned for many years, either because their owners died, or they ran out of money.

“After standing idle for many years, and with effects of the rain and sun, some of these structures have become a danger, and can collapse at any time and cause injury,” says the caretaker.

Residents now want the county government to compel owners of these abandoned houses to fence them off, or better still have them bring down decaying structures – to save the face of their estates.