By Andrew Kariuki
A civil society movement has raised alarm over a growing wave of building collapses in Nairobi, describing the incidents as a systemic governance failure rather than isolated accidents.
In a press statement dated March 21, 2026, Mtetezi, the Grassroots Economic Justice Movement, expressed concern over recent structural failures, including the partial collapse of a 22-storey building under construction in Westlands that left at least one worker dead and others injured or trapped.
The group linked the incident to a series of recent tragedies, including the Shauri Moyo collapse on March 16 that claimed four lives, as well as earlier cases reported in South C and Karen in January.
According to Mtetezi, the recurring collapses point to deeper structural issues within Nairobi’s planning and regulatory systems, including weak enforcement, compromised approvals, and a pattern of institutional inaction.
“These are not isolated accidents,” the statement said, arguing that the incidents reflect a cycle of impunity, ignored warnings, and delayed responses by public institutions.
The movement identified several key concerns, including alleged manipulation of site conditions to justify unsafe developments, irregular approval processes and widespread non-compliance with zoning regulations.
It also cited violations of basic planning standards such as setbacks, ventilation and public health requirements, warning that such breaches compromise the overall safety of urban developments.
Mtetezi further pointed to what it termed as enforcement failure, noting that stop orders and regulatory notices are often issued but not effectively implemented, allowing construction to continue despite identified risks.
The group has now called for accountability from multiple institutions, urging Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to publicly release records relating to approvals, inspections and enforcement actions tied to recent building collapse sites.
It also called on county planning and enforcement departments to disclose buildings currently flagged as high-risk and urged professional bodies, including the Engineers Board of Kenya and the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, to identify and take disciplinary action against professionals linked to unsafe developments.
Further, Mtetezi called on investigative and oversight agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, to probe potential cases of negligence, collusion, or corruption in the approval and construction process.
The movement also urged Parliament, the Senate and the Nairobi County Assembly to hold urgent public hearings on the issue, terming it a national urban safety crisis.
“Buildings do not collapse only because concrete is weak. Buildings collapse because institutions are weak,” the statement said, attributing the incidents to compromised approvals, ignored inspections and prioritisation of profit over safety.
The call comes amid growing concern over urban safety in Nairobi, with pressure mounting on authorities to address systemic failures in planning, regulation, and enforcement before further loss of life occurs.
