MP Babu Owino accuses Nairobi County officials of corruption after South C building collapse

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has called for a full, independent investigation and sweeping reforms following the collapse of a 16-storey building under construction in South C, Nairobi County.

In a statement issued after the incident, Owino said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the collapse, which has left families in distress and emergency responders racing to rescue possible survivors.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the collapse of the 16-storey building under construction in South C, Nairobi County, an incident that has left families in anguish and emergency teams scrambling for survivors,” the MP said.

Owino described the incident as a grim reminder of systemic failures in the capital’s construction oversight, saying, “This tragedy, coming just days into the new year, is a painful reminder of the cost of weak oversight, poor enforcement, and suspected corruption in Nairobi City County.”

The Embakasi East legislator raised alarm over reports that the building may have exceeded its approved height, alleging corruption within county offices.

“We note with grave concern reports suggesting that this structure was originally approved for fewer floors, and that unauthorised additional floors were added, allegedly facilitated through bribes to the Governor and Other Nairobi City County officials,” he said.

According to Owino, such claims point to “institutional corruption, where life-safety standards are sacrificed for profit and political convenience.”

He condemned what he termed a culture of impunity in the construction sector, stating: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any corruption or bribery that undermines building safety and public trust; approvals granted without full compliance with technical and legal requirements; a culture of impunity where county officials, developers, and professionals escape accountability.”

He demanded immediate action from authorities, including “a full, transparent, independent investigation into the collapse, including all approvals and inspections carried out at county and national levels.”

He also called for “immediate suspension of approvals for undocumented or suspicious developments until national safety audits and compliance checks are completed,” and for “accountability and prosecution of all those found to have enabled unsafe construction, whether public officials, private developers, or professionals in the built environment.”

Owino further urged Nairobi City County to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure safety standards are applied equally.

“Lives cannot be rebuilt. But systems can. Let this disaster spur the reforms Nairobi has long needed, so that we never again mourn deaths that could have been prevented.”