Preliminary investigations into the collapse of a building in Karen, Nairobi County, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, have revealed that the structure suffered a structural failure.
In a statement issued on January 10, 2026, County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning Patrick Mbogo, said poor workmanship and inadequate formwork contributed to the collapse.
“Initial findings show the use of sub-standard materials, where timber gum tree supports were used instead of appropriate steel props for the double-volume slab,” Mbogo said.
The incident led to the death of two people who sustained severe crush injuries, and the bodies were transferred to Nairobi Funeral Home.
Seven other people were rescued with injuries from the rubble and immediately transported to hospital.
The building was located along Ngong View Lane, Karen Ward, within Lang’ata Sub-County, Southern Borough.
According to county records, the project’s architectural plans were approved on November 14, 2024, while structural plans received approval on November 27, 2024.
The county identified the developer of the project as Moses A. Nyakiogora, with Eng. Edward Kariuki listed as the structural engineer.
Following the collapse, rescue efforts were carried out in collaboration with multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Management Unit and the Kenya Red Cross, as investigations into the incident continue.
“Further investigations are ongoing and additional updates will be communicated as information becomes available,” Mbogo added.
The incident comes days after another building collapsed in South C, Nairobi, killing two people.
In response to the South C collapse, the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) cited widespread non-compliance, weak professional practice, and regulatory failures.
In a statement issued on January 7, 2026, under its Mulika Mjengo platform, AAK President George Ndege said the incident exposed persistent gaps in development control and enforcement that must be urgently addressed.
“It is unfortunate that such an avoidable incident has occurred,” AAK said, noting that preliminary findings point to failures across approvals, professional practice, and regulatory oversight.
According to AAK, the project had been registered by the National Construction Authority (NCA) before development approvals were secured from the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The South C tragedy renewed scrutiny over construction oversight in Nairobi, with Governor Johnson Sakaja calling for a fundamental shift in how counties enforce building laws.
Sakaja has pushed for the return of prosecutorial powers to county governments, arguing that the move is critical to curbing rogue developers and strengthening enforcement.
Speaking on Sunday, January 4, 2026, after visiting the disaster site, the Governor said counties are often left powerless after taking enforcement action, as cases against developers stall once they reach the prosecution stage.
“Counties can issue stop orders, make arrests and take enforcement action, but once matters go to court, the process often stalls,” Sakaja said.
“If we are serious about protecting lives, counties must be granted prosecutorial powers to decisively deal with developers who violate building regulations.”
