Experts Demand Accountability After Fatal South C Building Collapse

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  Industry stakeholders in the built environment are calling for an immediate end to the culture of impunity following the tragic collapse of a building in South C. The disaster, which claimed the lives of two security guards, has reignited a fierce debate over construction safety and regulatory failure in the country.

              A Crisis of Safety

  In a joint statement, building experts delivered a staggering statistic: only 15% of buildings are currently considered safe. They noted that the South C tragedy was entirely preventable had due process and safety protocols been followed during the construction phase.

            Breaking the Cycle of Impunity

   The experts are demanding that all actors—from developers and engineers to government regulators—be held strictly accountable. Key areas of concern include:

•Design & Supervision: Professional members who fail in their oversight duties must face consequences.

•Regulatory Loophole: A lack of transparency in planning, approvals, and inspections has allowed unsafe structures to rise.

•Counterfeit Materials: The use of substandard building materials continues to jeopardize structural integrity.

•Political Interference: Poor governance and "quack" practitioners have flourished due to a lack of enforcement and political shielding.

 "Failure to enforce responsibility only feeds the culture of impunity. We must see the deregistration and sanctioning of those found guilty to restore integrity to our industry."

       

    The leadership of Kenya's built environment during the press briefing 

                A History of Silence

  Since 1996, over 200 buildings have collapsed, yet the findings of subsequent investigations are rarely made public. The stakeholders emphasized that the industry cannot evolve if lessons from past tragedies are ignored. They are calling for the public release of investigative reports to ensure that future projects incorporate vital safety standards.

  To restore public trust, the experts argue that the industry must shift from a reactive stance to one of proactive enforcement, ensuring that every professional involved in a project is held liable for its success or failure.

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