Kenya's Building Problem Update

Kenya's Building Problem

The most recent house or building collapse in Kenya occurred on January 10, 2026, in the Karen district of Nairobi. A building under construction opposite the Karen Community Church on Ngong Road collapsed. Two people died, and seven others were injured and taken to hospital. The Kenyan Red Cross rescued six injured people, cleared the rubble, and confirmed that all those trapped were safe. The latest building to collapse was a 14-story structure under construction in Nairobi's South C district on January 2, 2026. At least two people were killed, and the collapse sparked intense criticism of county-level oversight. Nairobi City County has been under particular scrutiny for past failures in enforcing regulations. The incident highlights the fundamental problems within Kenya's decentralized county system. Professional organizations are therefore calling for systemic reforms in all counties to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The Nairobi City Council admitted to issuing multiple warnings about the building in May, July, and December 2025 for violations such as exceeding the permitted number of stories, yet construction continued. In light of allegations of bribery amounting to 25 million Kenyan shillings for illegal permits, Governor Johnson Sakaja called for county authorities to be empowered to prosecute unscrupulous developers. Minister of Land Affairs Alice Wahome accused the City Hall of "gross negligence" in approving additional stories. Shammah Kiteme, president of the Kenyan Engineers Association, issued a statement saying that more than 200 buildings have collapsed in Kenya since 1996. One reason for this is likely the culture of impunity, which has made such disasters a recurring national tragedy. Construction professionals in Kenya have expressed concern that the lessons learned from past disasters have not been implemented, given the repeated building collapses in the country. The Architects Association (TAA) and the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) criticized county permitting systems nationwide for corruption, inadequate enforcement, and profit-driven decisions that disregard safety. The National Construction Authority (NCA) acknowledged non-compliance and promised a comprehensive investigation. It called for greater accountability across the construction sector. Calls are growing louder for cooperation between national regulators and all 47 counties to end impunity in the construction industry. In a joint statement, representatives from more than ten professional associations, including engineers, architects, urban planners, civil engineers, project managers, surveyors, and appraisers, called for a thorough review of the construction sector following the collapse of a multi-story building under construction in South C. The collapse in South C was preventable. It highlights deep-seated systemic deficiencies in planning, permitting, construction, building supervision, and enforcement. https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2026-01-09-experts-raise-alarm-as-200-buildings-collapse