NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi City County has released preliminary findings into the collapse of a residential building under construction in Karen that killed two people and injured at least seven others, deepening scrutiny of Kenya’s troubled construction approval and enforcement system.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, Built Environment and Urban Planning CEC Patrick Mbogo said the building, located at Plot No. 12882/197 along Ngong View Lane in Karen Ward, Lang’ata Sub-County, collapsed while construction was ongoing.
Emergency response teams from the county, the National Disaster Management Unit, and the Kenya Red Cross were dispatched to the scene to rescue workers trapped under the debris.
Seven injured victims were taken to the hospital, while two people succumbed to severe crush injuries and were transferred to the Nairobi Funeral Home.
Preliminary investigations by the county have pointed to structural failure caused by poor workmanship and the use of substandard materials.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the collapse was caused by structural failure resulting from poor workmanship and inadequate formwork. 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.
County records show that the architectural plans for the project were approved on November 14, 2024, while the structural plans were approved on November 27, 2024.
Officials have also named the professionals involved, with the developer listed as Moses A. Nyakiogora and the structural engineer as Eng. Edward Kariuki.
“The developer of the project is Mr. Moses A. Nyakiogora, with Eng. Edward Kariuki is listed as the structural engineer. Further investigations are ongoing, and additional updates will be communicated as information becomes available,” Mbogo said.
Under Kenya’s construction and planning framework, professional consultants, developers, and regulators share legal responsibility for ensuring that buildings meet safety standards under the National Building Code, county planning laws, and the National Construction Authority Act.
Where deaths occur, criminal liability can arise for negligence, unlawful construction, or professional misconduct.
The Karen tragedy has unfolded against the backdrop of another deadly collapse in South C, Nairobi, just days earlier. On January 2, 2026, a 12-storey mixed-use building being developed by Abyan Consulting Limited gave way during construction, killing two people and injuring several others.
The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) described the South C collapse as an avoidable disaster, citing serious failures in approvals, professional supervision, and regulatory enforcement.
In a statement, AAK said preliminary findings revealed multiple breaches, including the issuance of National Construction Authority registration before mandatory approvals from Nairobi City County and the National Environment Management Authority were secured.
The association also raised alarm over the approval of additional floors without evidence of structural review, weak documentation of site supervision, and mid-project changes to key consultants, including the structural and civil engineers. It said stop orders and enforcement notices from both the county and the NCA were apparently ignored.
AAK President George Ndege said the South C collapse exposed deep systemic flaws in how projects are managed and regulated. He said the architect adopted a developer-led coordination model that restricted site access, while the client acted simultaneously as developer and contractor, creating potential conflicts of interest.
Although site inspections and meetings were reportedly held, AAK said no formal inspection reports or minutes were produced, prompting calls for board-level investigations into professional conduct.
The crisis has now spilled into the courts. A rights activist has filed a petition at the High Court seeking the removal of NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech, accusing the regulator of negligence and failure to enforce construction laws despite repeated warnings.
Professional bodies including the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, The Architects Alliance, and the Kenya Institute of Planners have warned that more than 85pc of buildings in Nairobi are unsafe for occupation, urging urgent reforms in approvals, inspections, and enforcement.
