The Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) has released new details surrounding the collapse of a residential building that was under construction in Karen, an incident that left two people dead and at least seven others injured.
In a statement issued on Saturday, January 10 evening, Built Environment and Urban Planning CEC Member Patrick Mbogo confirmed that the building collapsed at Plot No. 12882/197 along Ngong View Lane, Karen Ward, Lang’ata Sub-County, while construction was ongoing.
Following the incident, the County Government immediately deployed emergency response teams to the site. The rescue operation was conducted jointly with the National Disaster Management Unit, the Kenya Red Cross, and other emergency services.
According to the county, seven victims were rescued with injuries and rushed to the hospital for treatment. However, two people succumbed to severe crush injuries, and their bodies were transferred to Nairobi Funeral Home.
Nairobi City County reveals possible causes of the Karen building collapse
Preliminary investigations by the county point to structural failure linked to poor workmanship and inadequate construction support systems.
Mbogo revealed that early findings indicate the use of substandard materials, noting that gum-tree timber supports were used instead of the recommended steel props, particularly for a double-volume slab.
“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.”
County records show that the architectural plans were approved on November 14, 2024, and the structural plans on November 27, 2024.
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Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration further disclosed the professionals behind the project.
“The developer of the project is Mr. Moses A, Nyakiogora, with Eng. Edward Kariuki listed as the structural engineer. Further investigations are ongoing, and additional updates will be communicated as information becomes available,” Mbogo added.
South C building
The Karen incident comes barely days after another fatal construction failure in South C, Nairobi, when a 12-storey mixed-use building under construction collapsed on January 2, 2026, killing two people and injuring several others.
The project, developed by Abyan Consulting Limited, collapsed while under construction, trapping workers beneath the rubble.
In the aftermath, the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) termed the collapse an avoidable tragedy, citing serious failures in approvals, professional supervision and enforcement. AAK, in a statement, said preliminary findings revealed multiple regulatory breaches, including the issuance of National Construction Authority (NCA) registration before mandatory approvals were obtained from Nairobi City County and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Also Read: Nairobi City County Clarifies on South C Storey Building Collapse as Rescue Operations Continue
The association further raised concerns about the approval of additional floors without evidence of structural review or inspection, weak documentation of site supervision, and mid-project changes to key consultants, including the structural and civil engineers. It also pointed to an apparent disregard of stop orders and enforcement notices issued by both the county government and the NCA.
AAK President George Ndege said the collapse exposed systemic gaps in compliance with the National Building Code, noting that the architect adopted a developer-led coordination model that limited site access, while the client simultaneously acted as developer and contractor, raising potential conflicts of interest.
Although site inspections and meetings were reportedly conducted, AAK said no formal inspection reports or minutes were produced, prompting calls for board-level investigations into professional conduct.
Separately, a rights activist has petitioned the High Court seeking the removal of NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech, alleging regulatory failures that have contributed to repeated fatal building collapses in Nairobi. The petition accuses the authority of negligence and failure to enforce construction laws despite prior warnings.
Meanwhile, professionals in the built environment sector have called for swift investigations and accountability, particularly targeting those who approved the addition of floors to the South C building.
Industry bodies, including the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), The Architects Alliance (TAA), and the Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP), warned that more than 85 per cent of buildings in Nairobi are unsafe for occupation, urging immediate reforms in approvals, inspections, and enforcement.
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