The Nairobi County Government has closed a construction site along Juja Road for failing to meet safety and environmental standards. Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria announced the closure on Wednesday, October 4, through his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the move followed persistent complaints from residents.
According to Mosiria, the construction site had been operating without proper protective measures, leading to falling debris and dust that endangered nearby residents and institutions. “Today, along Juja Road, we responded to persistent complaints from residents regarding a developer who was carrying out construction without proper protective measures,” Mosiria stated.
He added that debris from the site had been falling onto neighbouring properties, while dust was spreading into nearby homes and even hospitals, posing health risks to residents. The Chief Officer confirmed that one site supervisor was arrested for negligence and that the site would remain closed until the developer complies with the required environmental and safety standards.
Mosiria further affirmed that the Environment Department will intensify crackdowns on non-compliant construction sites across the city to safeguard public health and safety.
The closure comes just two days after a tragic incident in the Kayole area, where two pupils lost their lives and two others were injured when construction debris from a neighbouring building collapsed onto the Emmanuel New Life Learning Centre. The pupils were reportedly washing their hands after lunch when the debris struck them.
The injured children were rushed to the Uwezo Clinic for first aid before being transferred to Mama Lucy Hospital for further treatment. Authorities have since launched investigations to determine whether the building in question met the necessary regulatory and safety requirements.
