A mother and her two sons who died after a building collapsed in Kirigiti village, Kiambu County, last week were yesterday laid to rest at an emotional ceremony.

Relatives, friends and neighbours who gathered at Wamwangi village in Gatundu South to give the three their last respects, could not control their tears.

Mary Wanjiru, 29, her two sons Tyler Karanu and Carrick Mwania, aged nine and two years respectively, died after the six-storey building collapsed  on September 26.

The three, and at least two other people, were buried under the debris when the house under construction collapsed on adjacent residential building.

Some eight people were reportedly rescued from the rubble and taken to hospital with various injuries.

Mother’s pain

In her tribute, Wanjiru’s mother Jane Nyambura Karanu, said the loss was a bitter pill to swallow for her and her family.

“I miss you, my daughter. I’m still thinking about you, how you used to call, come, pick and take me for lunch only to lose you at the peak of your life. I wasn’t prepared for this and never thought it would happen to you but God has his plans. Rest in peace till we meet again,” she said.

Five incidents

In attendance, among others, were Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Kiambu Woman Rep Anne Wamuratha and Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe.

The leaders vowed to crack down on rogue developers applying shortcuts in building houses which, they said, had resulted in many disasters.

Five incidents of collapsed  buildings have been reported in Kiambu County in less than one year.

They have been blamed on runaway corruption and impunity in the land, planning and building sector of the county.

The latest building to collapse is reported to have been stopped by the former county administration as the owner had not acquired the requisite approvals.

Cartels warned

Wamatangi vowed to overhaul the planning department to root out cartels who he accused of abetting corruption.

“We must crack the whip and streamline the sector. Even the developers who have not been remitting levies must now agree to follow the laid down processes.

 This will help the county screen and supervise construction works and at the same time develop key infrastructure for a decent living,” he said.

Wamatangi said corruption between developers and county staff who facilitate the illegal constructions had encouraged impunity.

He promised to employ a member of the deceased’s family in his government.

Kagombe asked relevant agencies to deal with quacks in the construction industry to avoid such disasters.

“We need to have a sober, well-structured society that is free from these incidents. It’s sad that some officials may have received bribes to facilitate construction of the building. That is the reason we are burying a mother and all her sons. It’s very unfortunate,” said Kagombe.