NAIROBI, Kenya – The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has called for nationwide inspections of high-risk construction sites following two deadly incidents in Syokimau and Nairobi’s Riverside area that have claimed at least 10 lives within two days.
In a statement issued on Saturday, November 14, the professional body warned that repeated construction disasters point to systemic weaknesses in engineering design, site supervision, inspection and regulatory enforcement.
IEK said authorities should move beyond issuing condolences and investigating individual tragedies, urging a coordinated national exercise to identify buildings and construction projects that pose immediate risks to workers and the public.
“As a nation, we cannot continue counting casualties, issuing condolences and making promises while systemic weaknesses in the construction sector remain unaddressed – from engineering design and construction practice to professional supervision, inspection and regulatory enforcement,” the institution said.
The call followed the collapse of an eight-storey building under construction in Syokimau on Friday, November 13, which killed six workers and injured five others.
A day later, a perimeter wall at a construction site in Riverside, Nairobi, collapsed, killing three people and injuring 11 others. The Riverside death toll subsequently rose to four, bringing the combined fatalities from the two incidents to 10.
Engineers identify different possible causes
IEK cautioned against treating the two incidents as identical, saying each involved different construction activities and required a separate, independent technical investigation.
At the Syokimau site, engineers want investigators to examine the temporary structures that supported the concrete slab during pouring.
The investigation should establish whether the formwork and other temporary supports were properly designed, installed and inspected before concrete work began.
Police and other initial reports indicated that the Syokimau structure gave way during concreting works, with a suspected failure of the formwork. However, the exact cause remains subject to investigation.
The Riverside incident involved a different structural risk.
The perimeter or retaining wall collapsed at a site where the main building was still at the excavation and foundation stage, with no upper floors erected.
IEK wants investigators to examine whether the systems intended to support the excavation and prevent surrounding soil from collapsing were adequately designed, installed and maintained.
The institution stressed that these were preliminary technical observations rather than established findings on the causes of either disaster.
“Accountability must be based on independent, evidence-based investigations,” it said.
IEK wants construction halted until safety is confirmed
The engineers also called on national and county governments to stop construction activities in the affected areas until the relevant authorities establish that the sites are safe.
They further urged regulators to enforce construction laws more strictly and take appropriate action against individuals or companies found responsible for negligence, professional misconduct or breaches of safety requirements.
The institution argued that preventing further deaths would require addressing weaknesses throughout the construction process, including design approval, the quality of materials, supervision and regulatory inspections.
Its intervention adds pressure on government agencies responsible for approving and monitoring construction projects, particularly in rapidly expanding urban areas.
Eastleigh collapse adds to pressure on regulators
The latest incidents have renewed scrutiny of construction safety following the October 23 collapse of an 18-storey building under construction along 9th Street in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.
Eight people died in that disaster, while four others were rescued alive. Authorities later called off the search operation, with three people initially reported missing still unaccounted for.
The three incidents have intensified questions about whether developers, contractors, engineers and county authorities are adequately complying with building regulations.
The scale of the problem extends beyond the latest tragedies. Reuters, citing data from research organisations, reported that Kenya had recorded 24 building collapses by October 2026, the highest annual figure in the decade.
For IEK, the repeated loss of lives demonstrates the need for preventive inspections rather than relying primarily on investigations after buildings or construction structures have failed.
The institution’s call now places the spotlight on whether national and county authorities will undertake a comprehensive safety review and strengthen enforcement before another disaster occurs.
