The government has warned that the architect behind the collapsed South C building in Nairobi could face deregistration if investigations find criminal responsibility.
Speaking at the site on Monday, January 5, Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said the ministry would take firm action against any professional who violated the law, including removing them from the professional register.
Wahome explained that while the developer had obtained approval to construct a 12-storey building, four additional floors were illegally added, bringing the structure to 16 storeys. She noted that quality assurance inspections were conducted during construction, confirming the building had reached only the third floor at the time of the last check.
“At the time of the incident, the project was non-compliant on four additional floors that were never approved. That is the beginning of the problem, and our investigations will start from that point,” Wahome said.
The CS emphasized that all professionals involved – including architects, contractors, and inspectors – would be held accountable. She added that her ministry is working with other agencies and professional bodies to determine how the violations occurred and who is responsible.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the county had repeatedly flagged the building for non-compliance, but developers ignored notices. He called for county governments to be granted prosecutorial powers to directly take legal action against violators, citing delays from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The building collapsed on Friday, January 2, killing two people, with one still missing. The ODPP has directed the police to complete a full investigation within seven days and ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable.