Kenya: Calls for Penalties Follow 12-Story Building Collapse

What the report says

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has urged tougher penalties for developers who violate construction rules after an incomplete 12-storey building collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, according to Capital FM as distributed by AllAfrica. He also called for county governments to regain prosecutorial powers, arguing that current sanctions are too weak to deter unsafe building practices.

The collapse prompted a multi-agency rescue operation at the site along 1st Avenue and 9th Street. The report says Nairobi City County teams were working with the National Disaster Operations Centre, the Kenya Red Cross, the Kenya Defence Forces and other responders, using heavy machinery to clear debris and search for possible victims. The ground floor of the structure had been occupied when the building gave way, raising fears that people may have been trapped.

Sakaja said some developers obtain approvals with licensed professionals but later remove them and continue work with unqualified personnel. He also pressed professional bodies for architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and builders to discipline members who allow their names to be used improperly or abandon oversight responsibilities. The comments highlight ongoing concerns over enforcement of building standards in Nairobi, where officials have often faced criticism over weak compliance checks and low fines for violations.

The governor said developers should secure proper approvals and occupation certificates before using buildings, and that county authorities need stronger tools to act against unsafe projects. The article does not report the final casualty count or the full outcome of the rescue effort.