A Kenya Red Cross officer seen walking at the scene of collapsed building in Eastleigh , Nairobi. Photo: Red Cross
An exposé has revealed that 10 suspects linked to the construction of the condemned Eastleigh building that later collapsed were released on KSh 50,000 cash bail each, raising questions about enforcement failures at Nairobi City County.
According to Citizen TV, the suspects were arrested in June 2026 over alleged violations of the City Planning Act but were released hours later without being formally charged.
The revelations come as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigates the Eastleigh building collapse, with scrutiny mounting over the actions taken by authorities to stop construction of the condemned structure.
A police report under Occurrence Book (OB) Number 98/17/06/2026 indicates that 14 people linked to the construction project were arrested on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at approximately 3:20 p.m.
The report, recorded by Police Corporal Leonard Jacinta Semeyian, states that Nairobi County officers Moses Kariuki, T. Kiprotich and P.O. Wambugu carried out the arrests in Kamukunji Sub-County.
The suspects were identified as Farh Omar Ahmed, Najib Mustafa Haji, Abdulahi Abdi Abdulahi, Ismael Abdulahi Sahel, Mubashir Hassan, Ali Haji Abukar, Abdi Mohames Haimed, Ishak Thlil Hussein, Bethwel Wanjohi Wangui, Justus Mutheni Kasanga, Ahmed Noor Muhamed, George Muingrdinga, Masinde Julius Muchombo and Aliho Muhamed Hilow.
Ten of the 14 suspects were subsequently released on KSh 50,000 cash bail each. A receipt reportedly shows that the payments were made at 9:44 p.m. on the same day, following instructions attributed to the then Officer Commanding Station (OCS), C.I. Onyapidi.
The release was recorded under OB Number 172/17/06/2026 by Constable Mohammed Rashid Hillow.
Owner, Engineers and Contractor Not Among Those Arrested
Notably absent from the list of those arrested were the building’s listed owner, John Mutia Musyoki; architect Emanuel Mwangi Maina, registration number A2045; engineer Joseph Muturi Mugu, registration number A2750; and contractor Stromax Holdings E.A. Ltd.
The four were reportedly blacklisted in a report examining developments on Plot LR No. 36/11/40 along 9th Street in Eastleigh.
The report identified several shortcomings in the building’s architectural plans, including shops on the basement level, a lack of on-site parking, missing Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) height approvals and failure to provide three-metre setbacks on the basement and first floors.
The findings have intensified questions about how the construction proceeded despite the reported planning deficiencies and what action was taken against those responsible for the project’s design, approval and execution.
Engineers Blame Nairobi County Over Enforcement Failures
The Institution of Engineers of Kenya has blamed Nairobi City County for failing to adequately enforce building safety regulations, including conducting regular inspections during construction.
Institution of Engineers of Kenya President Eng. Harrison Kiplimo Keter said the county was responsible for approving building plans and ensuring that construction complied with approved designs and safety requirements.
“The county is responsible for approval and enforcement. What does that mean? They have to approve the designs, processes and materials, including several inspections to ensure that there is compliance. So, they should not run away from their mandate,” Keter said.
However, City Hall has blamed engineers for failing to notify authorities when their responsibilities at construction sites change.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said some engineers were engaged by contractors and developers during the initial approval process but subsequently ceased overseeing projects without informing Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and the National Construction Authority (NCA).
“The engineers are used by contractors and developers at the initial stages of approval for documentation purposes, but they don’t inform NCCG and NCA of any changes when they are no longer in charge of the project,” Sakaja said.
The disagreement has highlighted concerns about accountability and coordination among county officials, engineers, developers and contractors responsible for ensuring that buildings meet safety standards.
Nairobi County Investigates 256 Illegal Construction Cases
As investigations into the Eastleigh collapse continue, a Nairobi County report indicates that 256 cases involving illegal buildings have reached advanced stages of investigation.
Kasarani leads with 46 cases, followed by Embakasi West with 27 and Embakasi East with 21.
Lang’ata has 18 cases, while Roysambu and Starehe have 16 cases each. Mathare accounts for 15 cases, with the remaining cases spread across other parts of Nairobi.
Of the 256 cases, 25 have been processed, with files forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for perusal, advice and further action.
Sakaja said the county was proposing that the prosecution mandate be returned to Nairobi County to accelerate the resolution of cases involving illegal construction.
“We are also proposing to the ODPP that the prosecution mandate be returned to the Nairobi County mandate in order to fast-track the outcome of the cases,” Sakaja said.
The developments have renewed scrutiny of Nairobi’s building approval and inspection procedures as investigators seek to establish whether enforcement failures contributed to the Eastleigh building collapse and determine who should be held accountable.
