Nairobi Member of County Assembly have named County officials who should be prosecuted following the collapse of a 16 storey building in South C, Nairobi on January 2, 2026.
The early morning incident left at least four people dead and scores others injured.
(MCAs Waithera Chege (South B) and Robert Alai (Kileleshwa) have accused county planning and inspection officers of negligence and irregular approvals, calling for criminal charges against those responsible.
The building, which collapsed at around 5am on Friday along Muhoho Road in Lang’ata Constituency, had reached the 16th floor despite original approvals allowing construction of only 12 storeys.
“I demand that City Hall planning inspection officers, Nairobi urban planning officials, sub-county planning officers and the contractor be charged in a court of law with murder,” Waithera Chege said in a statement posted on her social media platforms.
Alai detailed the approval discrepancies, stating that the structure on LR No. 209/5909/10 (Block 68/1306) was approved under permit PLUPA-BPM-003455-N for 12 floors but had exceeded the limit by four additional storeys.
“This building was illegally allowed to rise to 16 floors. Chief Officer for Urban Planning Patrick Onalo and other officers must explain how this happened,” Alai said, warning that such officials pose a serious threat to public safety when they collude with political offices.
Meanwhile, Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, called for an immediate and total suspension of all construction activities in South C and Nairobi West wards.
“This is a tragic and unacceptable way to begin the year. Our greatest concern is the safety of those affected, and we pray that no lives have been lost,” Jalang’o said.
He demanded that the suspension remain in place until all ongoing construction projects undergo full approvals, safety audits and compliance checks by relevant authorities.
“The continued disregard for construction regulations and public safety must come to an end before more lives are put at risk,” he added.
Police confirmed that one person, believed to be a pedestrian, was rescued from the rubble and rushed to hospital.
