Buildings of impunity: Blame game as 18 die in three building collapses

The bulldozers that once tore through the rubble have fallen quiet, the frantic activity replaced by a padlocked gate and crime scene tape. What remains is a trail of destruction and a growing list of unanswered questions.

But the collapsed wall is only the tip of a much bigger problem. Behind the debris lies a troubling story of failed oversight and elusive accountability.

From contractors to county and national government agencies, the buck keeps being passed.

And as we went knocking on doors in search of answers, one thing became increasingly clear, everyone had an explanation, but no one seemed willing to take responsibility.

Our first stop was the Nairobi County Disaster Management Office....Chief Officer Bramwell Simiyu was quick to defend the county’s record, insisting that it was fulfilling its mandate.

He maintained that once a building collapses, the responsibility for investigating and establishing culpability rests with investigative agencies.

“Once a building collapses we leave it to the DCI to investigate,” said Bramwel Simiyu.

It is the third building-related collapse in less than a month, raising a troubling question...How many more buildings must collapse before decisive action is taken.

The county maintains that it is doing all it can to prevent further incidents while assessing the systemic challenges behind the recurring tragedies.

Chief Officer Simiyu said: “It is our responsibility to ensure such is not happening anymore.”

The Saturday wall collapse remains under investigation, with police saying they need more time to conclude their inquiries and bring those responsible to book.

But the wait for accountability is growing longer, 23 days after the Eastleigh building collapse, which claimed eight lives, no arrests have been made in connection with the tragedy.

And in Syokimau, the families of six construction workers killed in Friday’s building collapse are still coming to terms with their devastating loss.

Beyond the grief, they are left with painful questions about what went wrong, who failed them and whether anyone will ever be held accountable.

“Investigations are ongoing and are so meticulous and those responsible are held to account,” he added.

In a statement, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja shifted the blame to professionals, accusing them of negligence.

While acknowledging that the county had issued construction approvals, he faulted some developers for disregarding building standards and using substandard materials.

And as the blame game rages on, the National Disaster Management Unit is expected to release a report on the recent building collapses, which have claimed 18 lives.

But as the wait for that report continues, so do the questions over who dropped the ball, why oversight failed and who will ultimately be held accountable.

For the families left behind, the search for answers continues, but accountability remains elusive. The county government maintains that proper procedures are followed in approving building plans and that investigations are ongoing.

Yet, questions persist: were the necessary safeguards ignored, who failed in their duty, and who will answer for the 18 lives lost?