Months After South C Building Collapse, Families Still Wait for Answers as Questions Mount Over Approvals and Accountability

More than four months after a multi-storey building collapsed in Nairobi’s South C estate, killing and injuring victims trapped beneath tons of concrete and steel, families and residents say they are still waiting for justice, accountability and the truth.

What was initially described as a tragic construction accident is increasingly emerging as a possible case of regulatory failure, ignored warnings and alleged negligence stretching across developers, consultants and public agencies.

The building, located along Muhoho Avenue near South C Shopping Centre, came crashing down in the early hours of January 2, 2026. The National Construction Authority (NCA) later confirmed that the project was already “non-compliant” at the time of collapse.

The NCA identified Abyan Consulting Limited as both the developer and contractor of the project, while the consultants on record included architect Gideon Chege Mwangi, engineer Peter Kimani Kireu and quantity surveyor James Kirika Njoroge.

But beyond the official statements, newly surfaced documents from the South C Residence Association paint a disturbing picture of what residents describe as years of ignored warnings, weak enforcement and dangerous impunity within Nairobi’s construction sector.

According to the association, the collapsed structure had reportedly been approved for 12 floors but eventually rose to 16 floors before collapsing. Residents claim enforcement notices had been issued repeatedly in 2025, yet construction allegedly continued uninterrupted.

The documents further allege that the adjacent building — identified as Bridge Port Apartments on LR No. 209/5909/9 — remains structurally compromised despite concerns raised after the collapse. The residents’ association described the neighbouring property as a “ticking time bomb” for South C residents.

Land and company registration documents reviewed by the residents’ association appear to show ownership and transfer records connected to the property, including links between Bridge Port Apartments Limited and businessman Kenneth Bitange Nyachae through shareholding and land transfer records.

The association has demanded criminal proceedings against the developer, county officials, consultants and enforcement officers accused of failing to stop the illegal construction despite repeated warnings.

Residents also questioned why a comprehensive investigation report promised by authorities has not yet been made public months after the disaster.

On January 5, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome had announced that a multi-agency inquiry involving the NCA and other agencies would investigate the collapse and conduct compliance audits on buildings. However, residents now say silence from authorities has deepened public anxiety and mistrust.

“The silence from the government is now deafening,” the South C Residence Association said in its statement.

The association further accused authorities of fostering a “culture of impunity” where enforcement notices are ignored, site agents arrested and later released, while developers continue construction projects unchecked.

Meanwhile, victims’ families continue living with grief and unanswered questions.

The collapse reignited wider concerns about the safety of high-rise developments in Nairobi, where rapid urban construction has frequently outpaced enforcement and oversight. Leaders including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor previously called for independent investigations, stricter audits and prosecution of those found responsible.

As rescue dust settled months ago, residents say the deeper collapse may have been one of public trust in institutions meant to protect lives.

For grieving families and anxious residents, the question remains painfully simple:
Who will be held accountable?