The decision was reached following a joint on-site assessment conducted on Thursday morning by the county’s Urban Planning and Compliance Department, working together with the National Disaster Management Department and the National Construction Authority.
Addressing journalists at the site, Nairobi City County Director of Planning and Enforcement Tom Ochar said the building had developed serious structural defects and was at risk of collapsing.
“We are here at Mirema Drive next to Mirema School where a five-storey building is on the verge of collapse. After assessing the situation on the ground, we have resolved to bring it down because it is a disaster waiting to happen,” said Ochar.
He explained that the property owner had been given ample time to correct the defects but failed to take any remedial action.
“We gave the owner sufficient time since 2022 to make the building safe, but no corrective action was taken. Today, we have jointly assessed the situation, determined the type of machinery required, and we will proceed with the demolition,” he added.
Ochar stressed that the county had followed all legal and administrative procedures before arriving at the decision to demolish the structure, including issuing multiple compliance and enforcement notices over the past three years.
According to the county official, the building has developed severe cracks in key structural components, a condition that experts say significantly increases the risk of sudden failure.
He further underscored the legal obligations placed on developers and construction professionals, warning that failure to observe approved standards exposes the public to unnecessary danger.
“As a county, we follow the law. Once construction approval is granted, we ensure that the professionals involved sign indemnity forms committing to comply with all regulations. It is critical that professional bodies enforce accountability among their members to avoid such scenarios,” Ochar said.
He also pointed out that the county must be formally notified whenever a registered professional withdraws from an ongoing project.
“If any professional withdraws from a project midway, they must formally notify the county so that we can take the necessary steps,” he said.
County officials confirmed that the demolition will begin once the required heavy machinery is mobilised to the site and all safety arrangements are finalised.
Authorities have assured residents, parents and the management of Mirema School that strict safety measures will be enforced during the demolition to prevent injuries, damage to nearby property and disruption to learning activities.
The incident has once again drawn attention to persistent concerns over compliance, supervision and enforcement within Nairobi’s rapidly expanding construction sector, particularly in residential areas located close to learning institutions and other sensitive public facilities.
Urban safety experts have repeatedly warned that weak oversight and disregard for approved building standards continue to pose serious risks in the capital, especially as private developments intensify in densely populated neighbourhoods.
