Nairobi was plunged into shock and mourning on January 2, 2026, after a 16-storey building under construction collapsed in the South C Shopping Centre area, leaving widespread destruction and renewed questions about corruption and regulatory failure in the construction sector.
According to Kileleshwa MCA, Robert Alai, at least two security guards and two Bolt drivers, along with their passengers, were reportedly killed when the building came down.
Emergency responders, including the Kenya Red Cross, police, and county disaster teams, were deployed to the scene to conduct search-and-rescue operations amid thick dust and massive debris.
By the time of publishing, authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming casualties or the exact cause of the collapse.
Alai has alleged that the building, constructed on LR No. 209/5909/10, was originally approved for only 12 floors.
He claims that an additional five floors were added illegally after a Sh25 million bribe was allegedly shared among officers within the Nairobi County Physical Planning Department.
These allegations, which authorities have not independently verified, have intensified public outrage and calls for accountability.
In his statement, Alai listed several officials and professionals who, he argues, should be investigated and potentially held responsible.
These include the Chief Officer for Planning, the Director of Physical Planning, county planners, assistant directors, development control officers, county building inspectors, and enforcement officers.
He also named private-sector actors such as the structural engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, contractor, developer, and property owner as bearing responsibility for the tragedy.
He further suggested that those found culpable could face serious charges, including manslaughter, criminal negligence, institutional corruption, and systemic abuse of office.
Alai also linked the South C incident to what he described as a broader pattern of illegal approvals in Nairobi, alleging that individuals such as Fredrick Ochanda, Patrick Analo, and Osman Khalif have enabled unlawful developments and billboards in exchange for bribes.
These claims remain allegations and have not been confirmed by investigative authorities.
