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Kenya was warned over danger of pipeline explosion that killed 95
NAIROBI, Kenya — Experts say the government was repeatedly warned about the dangers of people living on top of a petroleum pipeline after an explosion claimed 95 lives two days ago.
Experts said Wednesday families living in Kenya’s slums are vulne…
Government policy is to move people out of slums on unsuitable land, said Ngau, but it is not followed.
“We have very good policies, the policies for informal settlement and housing are there but they are never implemented,” he said.
Government spokesman Alfred Mutua could not be reached for comment.
“This latest incident of fire starkly illustrates the particular vulnerability and inadequate conditions faced by people living in slums and informal settlements,” said international rights group Amnesty International.
Politicians looking for cheap votes are the greatest problem when trying to relocate slum residents, said Musembi Mumo, the chairman of the architects chapter at the Architectural Association of Kenya.
He cited the June collapse of a building under construction near the country’s main airport, which killed two people and injured scores of others. At the time, the local legislator said substandard buildings in his constituency should be condemned in line with government policy, Mumo said.
But days later the same legislator was on television urging residents to attack government officials inspecting buildings, Mumo said. The legislator said he was misunderstood.
“Politicians do not want to alienate their voters. He just wants to be in parliament to eat his salary,” Mumo said. Kenyan parliamentarians are among the best paid in the world, drawing salaries and perks of $10,000 a month. More than half of Kenyans live on less than $2 a day.
Mumo said Kenyan politicians do not care about anyone but themselves. “As long as they vote for him who cares if they die, new voters will born tomorrow,” he said.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
