Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has demanded justice and compensation for victims following the collapse of a multi storey building that was under construction in South C, Lang’ata Constituency. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, January 2, 2026, sending shockwaves across the city and raising renewed concerns about construction safety in Nairobi.
The building, reportedly 16 storeys high, collapsed along Muhoho Road, triggering panic among residents, motorists, and nearby businesses. Heavy debris spilled onto the road, damaging several vehicles and blocking movement in the area. Thick dust covered the neighbourhood, forcing homes and businesses close to the site to shut down temporarily as safety concerns grew.
Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately to manage the situation and begin rescue operations. These included the Kenya Red Cross, the National Disaster Management Unit, the National Police Service, and Nairobi City County disaster teams. Rescue workers have been combing through the rubble in search of survivors amid fears that drivers and passengers who were on the road at the time of the collapse, as well as two watchmen, may still be trapped beneath the debris.
The scale of the destruction and the uncertainty surrounding those who may still be buried under the rubble have kept the area tense, as authorities and volunteers continue working against time.
Why did the South C building collapse raise serious safety concerns?
Passaris described the incident as a painful reminder of the dangers caused by greed, negligence, and weak enforcement of construction standards in Nairobi. She stated that lives and livelihoods were put at risk, and in some cases cut short, because safety rules were ignored. According to her, such tragedies are avoidable if regulations are followed and enforced without compromise.
She confirmed that her team was present on the ground in South C to support ongoing rescue efforts as authorities focused on saving lives. Passaris emphasized that accountability must follow once rescue operations are concluded.
“There is no justification for rushing, shortcuts, or ignoring safety standards when human life is involved. This tragedy must be a wake-up call. Rogue investors and negligent professionals must be held fully accountable. Families who lose loved ones deserve justice and compensation. For now, our focus remains on rescue and saving lives. Accountability must follow, and it must be firm,” Passaris stated
She further criticised the recurring trend of unsafe construction across the city, noting that Nairobi has witnessed too many building collapses in recent years. In her view, continued disregard for safety standards reflects deeper problems within the construction sector that demand urgent attention.
Who should be held accountable after Nairobi building collapses?
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also weighed in on the tragedy, calling for a thorough investigation into how the collapsed building was approved and monitored. He blamed weak regulation, poor enforcement, and suspected corruption within Nairobi City County for allowing unsafe developments to proceed unchecked.
Owino stated that the South C collapse exposed serious failures in systems meant to protect the public from dangerous construction practices. According to him, authorities must examine the entire approval and inspection process to identify where lapses occurred and ensure those responsible are held to account.
As rescue efforts continue, the incident has once again brought national attention to the urgent need for stricter oversight in the construction industry. For many young Kenyans living and working in the city, the collapse highlights the real risks posed by poorly regulated developments and the importance of prioritising safety over profit.
By Lucky Anyanje