The recent collapse of a building in South C has brought Nairobi’s construction and safety standards into sharp focus, with experts warning that most buildings in the city are not fit for habitation.
Professionals from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), The Architects Alliance (TAA), and the Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP) highlighted widespread failures in design, construction, and regulation, calling for urgent action to prevent similar disasters.
The experts stressed the need for immediate investigations into the South C collapse and accountability for those who approved extra floors on the building, noting that such breaches of professional standards cannot go unpunished. They described the incident as a reflection of deeper issues in the construction sector, fueled by corruption, greed, and lax oversight.
“The developer has that first duty of care of getting that consultant. The contractor has the duty of care in terms of quality, processes and approvals,” said TAA President Sylvia Kasanga.
IEK President Shammah Kiteme questioned responsibility, asking, “Who was the responsible structural engineer? Is it the one in the NCA records? The one on site?”
George Ndede, president of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), explained that structural safety begins at the foundation. “It is not that you add another floor because you got more tenants. It is a calculation that starts from the foundation. If the foundation was not ready, you can’t add later,” he said.
The experts said the collapse highlights preventable failures at every stage of building projects, from planning and approvals to construction and inspections. Kasanga called for greater accountability, saying, “Can NCA blacklist all contractors who have issues? Make it public.” Kiteme added, “These are systemic issues which are largely preventable.”
The associations reported that in a survey of 15,000 buildings in Nairobi, only 15 per cent were deemed safe. “You are talking about all the others as being unsafe,” Kiteme said. Ndede warned of the potential risks to residents, stating, “If a tremor, even on a very low Richter scale, happened, many buildings would come down… If you have to switch on your lights during the day, that is a problem. If there is a sewer outside your house, that is a problem.”
Expressing sympathy for families affected, the professionals called the South C collapse an avoidable tragedy. They cited repeated lapses across the sector, including political interference, corruption, unqualified personnel, substandard work, and failure to learn from past incidents. More than 100 buildings have collapsed in Kenya since 1996, yet accountability remains weak.
The experts urged independent and transparent investigations, public reporting of findings, accountability for developers, reparations for victims, and audits of ongoing projects.
They proposed a technical task force, mandatory peer reviews at all stages, stronger county planning systems, and a national planning information system to improve coordination and transparency.
The associations concluded by affirming their commitment to collaborating with regulators, governments, and the public to restore confidence in Kenya’s built environment and prevent future disasters.
