Engineers Board to Probe Cause of South C Building Collapse
Ruku reveals four trapped at the collapsed house in South C
The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) has said it will appoint an independent team of engineers next week to investigate the cause of the collapse of a building in South C, Nairobi.
In a statement, EBK Chief Executive Officer Margaret Ogai said board officials visited the site on January 5, 2026, to begin investigations into the incident.
Ogai said the board is in contact with the two engineers involved in the project to establish their specific roles in the design and supervision of the construction. The findings will guide the next steps to be taken under the law.
“Following these preliminary investigations, the board will appoint an independent panel of expert engineers next week to determine the technical cause of the collapse and ensure full compliance with the Engineers Act, 2011,” Ogai said.
She added that projects of such magnitude involve several stakeholders with clearly defined but complementary roles, all of whom must be held accountable.
Meanwhile, at least three people have been arrested and charged in connection with the illegal construction of the collapsed building.
Court documents show that Farah Hassan Jacub, Abdiaziz Hassan Jacub, and Wycliffe Omondi Onyango were charged on July 30, 2025, with multiple offences related to the project. They were released on cash bail of Sh20,000 after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions approved the charges.
Investigations indicate that the suspects later returned to the site and continued construction despite the charges. County enforcement officers did not re-arrest them.
Nairobi City County has revealed that the 14-storey building had been flagged several times by county enforcement teams months before it collapsed.
Documents from the county’s Urban Planning Department show arrests were made at the site in May 2025, July 2025, and December 8, 2025, due to failure to comply with approved construction standards and regulations.
According to a situation report from City Hall, the building—located at Plot No. 209/5909/10 along Kiganjo Muhoho Avenue in South C Ward—had several violations, but construction continued.
The building collapsed in the early hours of January 2, 2026, in what authorities described as a “pancake collapse.” At least four people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Following the collapse, the Nairobi City County Government said it immediately deployed emergency and rescue teams to the site. These efforts are being supported by the National Youth Service (NYS), the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Disaster Response Battalion, and the Nairobi Fire Brigade.
A command centre has been set up at the scene as rescue operations and debris removal continue at the same time.
City Hall also warned that a nearby 16-storey building has been declared high risk due to possible structural damage caused by the collapse.