The Kenyan government has hinted at the potential deregistration of the architect responsible for the collapsed South C building in Nairobi if deemed criminally liable. This decision follows investigations revealing that the 16-storey structure grossly violated approved building plans.

• Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome stated the building was approved for only 12 storeys, but developers illegally added four extra floors.
• The collapse, on Friday, January 2, resulted in two fatalities, with one body recovered and rescuers searching for another victim.
• Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja accused the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) of failing to prosecute developers despite repeated non-compliance flags from the county.
• The ODPP has ordered the Inspector General of Police to investigate the collapse and submit a comprehensive report within seven days.

Following the collapse of a 14-storey building in South C, Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has renewed calls for county governments to regain prosecutorial powers. He argues this is crucial for curbing rogue developers and enforcing building regulations, as cases against violators often stall in prosecution despite county enforcement actions.

• The collapsed building was reportedly flagged multiple times for violations by Nairobi City County enforcement teams, dating back to May 2025.
• Governor Sakaja stated that some developers sideline qualified professionals for cheaper, unqualified alternatives, leading to unsafe structures.
• City Hall has blamed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for declining to prefer charges, allowing construction to continue despite infractions.

The collapse of a 16-storey building under construction in Nairobi's South C Estate on January 2, 2026, has highlighted the critical issue of professional negligence and substandard practices in Kenya's construction industry. This incident follows closely on the heels of another building in Parklands discovered with cracked columns in December 2025, prompting calls for urgent reforms.

• The article emphasizes that these incidents are not acts of nature but rather due to professional negligence involving various parties, including contractors, engineers, architects, and regulatory officials.
• Alfred Ng’ang’a, a Corporate Communications Consultant, stresses the need for all stakeholders in the building and construction industry to prioritize traceability and lab testing of materials.
• The Kenya National Accreditation Service (KENAS) is urged to enforce rigorous testing for building materials, with companies like Bamburi Cement cited as examples of those investing in quality control, including a new US $250 million Clinkerisation plant.

Following the collapse of a 16-storey building in South C, Nairobi, on Friday, January 2, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has given Inspector General of Police Dougas Kanja seven days to investigate the incident. The building had been flagged multiple times by the Nairobi County Government for infractions.

• A 16-storey building collapsed in South C.
• DPP Renson Ingonga ordered IG Dougas Kanja to investigate and submit a report within 7 days.
• The Nairobi County Government confirmed the building had received warnings in May, July, and December 2025 for infractions.
• As of Sunday, one body had been retrieved, and search operations continue for a second victim.