A post-mortem examination has confirmed that 31-year-old Ali Adan Galgallo, one of the security guards trapped in the South C building collapse, died from multiple injuries sustained when the structure fell last Friday.
The report underlines the dangers posed by the unsafe building as rescue teams continue their search for another guard believed to be inside.
Galgallo was laid to rest on Tuesday at Lang’ata Muslim Cemetery following prayers at Masjid Nuur Mosque in South C. Friends, relatives, and community members attended, calling for compensation and urgent recovery efforts at the disaster site.
“Both of them had very young families and their firstborns are like six or seven years old, so there is the issue of school, food, upkeep. We hope they’re going to be magnanimous enough to extend a hand of support,” former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani said.
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute urged the government to act swiftly to assist families affected by the collapse.
“Tumepata maiti moja tumezika leo, tungetaka sana serikali ifanye juhudi watu wametoka mbali,” he said.
Search and rescue operations entered their fifth day on Tuesday, with multi-agency teams using excavators and specialised equipment to comb through debris. Officials expect the mission to conclude in two days, focusing on locating the second security guard who remains unaccounted for.
South C MCA Abass Khalif warned of the potential danger to nearby children and schools if the collapse had happened during school hours.
“When we open the assembly on 14th February, we are going to summon CEC planning, chief officers, directors, all of them. I have even written to ODPP. Let investigations be done because for something like this to happen, what if it was a school day at Kongoni Primary School here, I think leo tungekuwa na janga kubwa sana,” Khalif said.
Detectives have summoned all parties involved in the project following DPP directives. A technical report is awaited to determine the exact cause of the collapse and guide further action.
The DPP expressed concern and extended sympathies to the families.
“The DPP empathises with family members of those that were and are still trapped under the debris of the collapsed building, and sends to each of them his most sincere sympathies,” the statement read.
To ensure accountability, the DPP instructed the Inspector General of Police to fast-track investigations and submit a comprehensive report within seven days.
“Towards holding every person who enabled the unsafe construction to account, whether public or private individuals, the DPP has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately initiate and or expedite investigations into the circumstances surrounding the said incident and to submit a comprehensive report thereon to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) within seven (7) days from today,” the statement said.
Police have been directed to record statements from all key individuals, including the developer, contractor, and officials involved in approvals, inspections, and enforcement. The ODPP reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and the rule of law.
The collapsed building, developed by Abyan Consulting Limited, fell in a pancake-like manner, trapping workers and security staff. Rescue teams managed to recover one body by Sunday, while efforts continue for at least one more person.
Incident Commander Duncan Onyango Ochieng confirmed progress at the site but warned that nearby structures remain at risk.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visited the scene on January 4, defending the county administration by noting that approvals had been properly issued, though enforcement was challenging. The building had been flagged at least three times in 2025 for violations, including exceeding the approved 12 floors and resisting inspections. Sakaja noted that developers sometimes replace qualified professionals with less skilled workers during construction.
He emphasized the need for counties to have prosecutorial powers to prevent weak penalties or dropped charges. Leaders including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Langata MP Phelix Odiwuor (Jalango) have called for urgent probes to establish responsibility and prevent similar tragedies.
