Collapsed building in South C / BABU OWINO FACEBOOK

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has issued a series of demands following the collapse of a 16-storey building under construction in South C, Nairobi County,.

The legislator called for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into the collapse, including a comprehensive review of all approvals, inspections, and compliance checks conducted at both county and national levels.

He further demanded the immediate suspension of approvals for undocumented or non-compliant developments until thorough safety audits and regulatory verifications are completed.

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The legislator also called for firm accountability measures, insisting that all individuals and institutions found to have enabled unsafe construction practices be held responsible in accordance with the law.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms any corruption or bribery that undermines building safety and public trust, approvals granted without full compliance with technical and legal requirements and a culture of impunity where officials, developers, and professionals escape accountability,” he said.

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Babu Owino urged Nairobi City County to implement stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure that all buildings meet mandatory safety, technical, and legal standards, warning that selective enforcement puts lives at risk.

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Lives cannot be rebuilt. But systems can. Let this disaster spur the reforms Nairobi has long needed, so that we never again mourn deaths that could have been prevented."

At least two people are feared trapped after the 14-storey building collapsed early Friday morning in South C, Nairobi, prompting a major multi-agency rescue operation.

According to a situation report by the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG), the building collapsed at Plot No. 209/5909/10 along Kiganjo Muhoho Avenue Junction in South C Ward, Lang’ata Sub-county, within the city’s Southern Borough. 

The incident occurred in the morning hours, with emergency teams deployed immediately.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the structure suffered a “pancake collapse” involving all 14 floors.

“Two people are believed to be trapped within the debris,” the county said, adding that search and rescue operations were ongoing.

Emergency response efforts are being jointly undertaken by teams from Nairobi City County, the National Youth Service (NYS), the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Disaster Response Battalion and the Nairobi Fire Brigade. 

Heavy machinery, including an excavator from the NYS, has been deployed to aid debris removal as rescuers continue with the primary search phase.

A command centre has been established at the scene to coordinate operations, while debris clearance is proceeding alongside rescue efforts to increase the chances of locating any survivors.

Authorities have also raised concerns over the safety of nearby structures. 

An adjacent 14-storey building has been classified as high risk due to potential structural compromise caused by vibrations and impact from the collapse.