Senate to Probe Building Collapses in Nairobi Amid Rising Safety Concerns

The Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing is scheduled to conduct an investigation into frequent building collapses in Nairobi, addressing concerns over breaches of construction standards, inadequate regulatory enforcement, and potential professional negligence. Committee Chairperson Senator Hamida Kibwana highlighted the inquiry will cover compliance with approved blueprints, the quality of construction work, the efficiency of regulatory bodies, and shortcomings in legislation governing construction safety.

Kibwana referenced multiple building collapses in Nairobi in 2026, including a recent incident on 9th Street in Eastleigh where an 18-story under-construction building crumbled. She expressed worry that residential ground-floor businesses were occupied at the time of the collapse, emphasizing the dangers of unsafe building practices.

Another incident occurred in South C's Manzil Towers in January, where construction reportedly extended beyond the approved 12 storeys by an additional four floors. Other reported collapses included a partial failure of a 22-story building under construction in Westlands and a building collapse during a demolition linked to the Nairobi River Regeneration Project in March.

Kibwana cited the National Building Inspectorate's 2025 audit of 396 developments nationwide, which found that 87 percent either failed to meet building standards or lacked necessary approvals. The audit led to the emergency demolition of two buildings due to severe structural defects and documented six major collapses in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisii in 2025 alone.

She cautioned that building collapses result in significant consequences, such as loss of life, injuries, permanent disabilities, loss of livelihoods, psychological trauma, and damage to surrounding properties and infrastructure.

Kibwana emphasized the gravity of building collapses, stating, "The collapse of any building comes with immeasurable losses to the country." She recalled the Senate Committee's previous discussions with the Nairobi City County Government about unregulated developments, encroachment on public spaces, and obstruction of roads and drainage systems in residential estates.

The Committee visited Eastleigh on September 29, 2026, and met with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on October 13 to address these issues. The Governor informed the Committee that the county government had forwarded over 300 files concerning suspected regulatory violations to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

The Senate plans to consult the ODPP to assess the status of these files and determine if they have led to charges, prosecutions, or other enforcement actions.

The investigation will also probe potential professional negligence and the responsibilities of national and county government agencies in preventing unsafe construction. Senator Kibwana noted that urbanization and increasing demand for housing have placed pressure on planning and regulatory institutions, contributing to persistent safety concerns.

She cited data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicating that 31.2 percent of Kenya's population resides in urban areas, with an annual urbanization rate of 4.4 percent. Kibwana assured the Senate that the Committee will prepare and present a comprehensive report detailing its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislative measures to enhance construction safety and accountability.