The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Douglas Kanja to immediately initiate or expedite investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a building in South C, Nairobi, on January 2, 2026.
Police have been instructed to submit a comprehensive report on the probe to the DPP within seven days from January 4, 2026.
According to the DPP, the scope of the probe will aim at holding every person who enabled the unsafe construction accountable, whether public or private individuals.
IG Kanja is expected to record statements from all relevant persons, including the developer, the contractor, and those responsible for building and construction approvals, inspections, and enforcement, and forward the resulting file for perusal within the specified time frame.
In a statement, the DPP also expressed sympathy for the families of those still trapped under the rubble.
“The DPP empathizes 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 DPP said.
The prosecutorial authority also assured the public of its commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens in the case.
“The ODPP remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens in accordance with the rule of law, public interest and the administration of justice,” it said.
The statement comes as rescue teams retrieved one body from the rubble on Sunday, January 4, at about 1:30 pm, as rescue and recovery operations entered their third day.
The recovery was carried out by emergency teams from Nairobi County Government, the Disaster Management Unit, the Kenya Red Cross, and other agencies, including the police.
Speaking to the press earlier, Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr. Duncan Ochieng, the operations commander, said the search operation was about 65 percent complete.
Police noted that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the building collapse occurred around 4:05 am on January 2, 2026, at the South C Shopping Centre area.
He added that the cause of the collapse has not yet been established and that investigations have been launched by a multi-sectoral team including the National Police Service, National Construction Authority, National Building Inspectorate, Engineers Board of Kenya, BORAQS, NEMA, and Nairobi City County Government, among others.
By Sunday, teams were still searching for one more body believed to be trapped under the 14-storey building.
