The Senate has launched an investigation into recurring building collapses in Nairobi, with lawmakers targeting construction projects suspected of violating safety standards and more than 300 files forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for possible enforcement action.
The Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing will investigate breaches of approved building plans, poor construction standards, weaknesses in regulatory enforcement and possible professional negligence.
Committee Chairperson Hamida Kibwana announced the planned inquiry in a statement on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, warning that continued building failures were exposing residents, traders and members of the public to danger.
The investigation follows a series of building collapses reported in Nairobi this year, including the October 23 incident along 9th Street in Eastleigh, where a multi-storey building under construction came crashing down.
The building had businesses operating on its ground and basement floors, raising concerns about the risks posed when construction activities take place alongside occupied commercial premises.
The Eastleigh tragedy has attracted national attention, with rescue operations recovering five bodies and leaving 16 people reported missing in the latest update. Four people were rescued alive.
Kibwana said the Committee would examine whether developers complied with approved construction plans and whether regulatory agencies fulfilled their responsibilities in ensuring buildings were safe for occupation.
“These incidents raise concerns regarding compliance, structural safety and accountability,” she said.
Buildings flagged in Nairobi safety probe
Among the incidents the Committee intends to examine is the January collapse of Manzil Towers in South C, where construction went beyond the approved 12 storeys by an additional four floors.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) had previously confirmed that the South C development was registered and approved for a 12-storey structure. Following the collapse on January 2, 2026, the Authority announced that investigations would establish the circumstances behind the incident and determine liability.
The Committee will also investigate the partial collapse of a 22-storey building under construction along School Lane in Westlands and the collapse of a building in Blue Estate, Shauri Moyo, during a demolition exercise linked to the Nairobi River Regeneration Project.
The latest incidents have renewed questions about whether developers are following approved designs and whether county and national agencies are conducting adequate inspections before and during construction.
300 files forwarded to ODPP
The Senate investigation will also examine the status of more than 300 files involving developments suspected of violating construction regulations.
According to Kibwana, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja informed the Committee during a meeting on October 13 that the county government had forwarded more than 300 files to the ODPP for further action.
The Committee plans to engage the prosecution office to establish how many of the files have resulted in charges, prosecutions or other enforcement measures.
It will also seek explanations for any delays in processing the cases.
The development follows a site visit by the Senate Committee to parts of Eastleigh on September 29, during which lawmakers assessed concerns surrounding unregulated developments, encroachment on public spaces and obstruction of roads and drainage systems.
The Committee subsequently met Sakaja to discuss the challenges facing the county in enforcing development regulations.
The ODPP had separately announced on October 26 that it had directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the Eastleigh building collapse, including the conduct of county officials, the developer, contractors and professionals involved in the project.
The prosecution office said it had not received an inquiry file specifically relating to the construction of the collapsed Eastleigh building at the time of its statement.
87 per cent of audited buildings failed standards
Kibwana cited findings from the National Building Inspectorate’s 2025 audit, which assessed 396 developments across the country.
The audit found that 87 per cent of the developments either failed to meet building standards or lacked the necessary approvals.
It also resulted in the emergency demolition of two buildings because of serious structural defects and documented six major building collapses in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisii during 2025, including two incidents in Parklands, Nairobi.
The findings were highlighted in the Architectural Association of Kenya’s Status of the Built Environment Report 2025, which raised concerns about persistent weaknesses in construction oversight.
The report also showed that the number of buildings audited by the National Building Inspectorate fell sharply from 20,649 in 2024 to just 396 in 2025, raising questions about the capacity of regulators to monitor construction activity.
A separate government assessment covering July 1, 2025, to April 2, 2026, found that 12,018 out of 21,282 buildings inspected across the country were non-compliant.
In Nairobi, 3,908 developments were assessed, with 2,261 found to be compliant.
The findings point to a wider challenge in enforcing construction regulations, particularly as demand for housing and commercial buildings continues to grow.