Twenty families living near a three-story building were forced to vacate on Tuesday night after the apartment, which was under construction, developed cracks in Kutus town, Kirinyaga County.

Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Samuel Kanjobe, the county executive committee member for lands, took charge of the operations after receiving urgent reports from concerned public members.

County engineers assessed the situation and warned the residents, urging them to vacate immediately to avoid a potential disaster in their neighboring houses.

The building had teetered after its columns cracked and was leaning on an adjacent house where residents had also been told to evacuate.

Kanjobe said that the County Government acted quickly to avert a disaster amid reports that the neighboring building housed more than 20 people.

Residents in buildings surrounding the ill-fated house were also affected, and the CECM stated that they would have to vacate and stay away from the area until officials gave the all-clear.

Further, he said all houses that are deemed unfit for habitation will be closed down or demolished based on expert assessment.

Occupants said that they developed fear after some building stones in the house under construction fell into their houses.