Death Traps: Nairobi Sitting on a Time Bomb as 85 Per Cent of Buildings Risk Collapse

Nairobi residents are unknowingly living in death traps, with a staggering 85 per cent of buildings in the capital unsafe for human habitation and vulnerable to collapse even from minor tremors, professional architects and engineers have warned.

The chilling revelation came as construction industry professionals broke their silence following the South C building collapse that killed two people last week, painting a grim picture of a city where corruption, greed and regulatory failure have turned homes into potential mass graves.

“If a tremor, even on a very low Richter scale, happened today, many buildings would come down. We are living by the grace of God,” declared Architectural Association of Kenya President Prof George Ndege in a stark warning that has sent shockwaves through the nation.

The professionals revealed that a 2018 audit by the National Building Inspectorate covering 14,925 buildings found that only 2,194 structures were safe. A staggering 723 buildings were classified as very dangerous, while 10,791 were deemed unsafe and 1,217 rated as fair.

“NBI took a sample of 15,000 buildings and only 15 per cent of them were safe. You are talking about all the others as being unsafe,” said Institution of Engineers of Kenya President Shammah Kiteme, his voice heavy with the weight of the statistics.

The implications are terrifying. Millions of Kenyans go to bed each night in buildings that could become their tombs at any moment. Children attend schools, families worship in churches, workers toil in offices, all within structures that professional engineers warn are fundamentally unsound.

Prof Ndege painted a disturbing picture of daily life in Nairobi’s residential buildings. “How many buildings have natural light during the day? How many have fresh air, family-friendly spaces, proper sanitation and access to open areas for children to play? If you have to switch on your lights during the day, that is a problem. If there is a sewer outside your house, that is a problem. The number of buildings that are not fit for human habitation is extremely high.”

The South C tragedy, where a 16-storey residential building crumbled like a house of cards, has exposed what professionals describe as a toxic cocktail of corruption, political interference, counterfeit materials and regulatory capture that has turned Kenya’s construction sector into what they call a “ticking time bomb.”

Speaking at a joint press conference, leaders from eight registered professional bodies, including the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, The Architects Alliance, Kenya Institute of Planners, Institution of Surveyors of Kenya and Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya, laid bare the rot in the sector.

“Many investigations have been done. There is no evidence that we have implemented the lessons learnt from the dissections and investigations. The failure to make people take responsibility makes this culture of impunity entrenched and there is no way to stop it,” the lobbies warned in a damning indictment of the system.

The professionals revealed that developers routinely add extra floors to buildings mid-construction without redesigning foundations, a practice that significantly increases structural load and the risk of catastrophic collapse. Counterfeit construction materials flood the market unchecked, while quacks masquerading as qualified engineers sign off on deadly designs.

“We worry about counterfeit alcohol because it kills, yet our buildings are killing us silently. We don’t know the quality of materials being used and that is the harsh reality professionals are grappling with,” said The Architects Alliance President Senator Sylvia Kasanga.

Perhaps most shocking is the revelation that corruption has become so entrenched that approvals are routinely fast-tracked through bribery, with powerful political connections shielding rogue developers from consequences.

The South C building itself exemplified the systemic failures. Investigations revealed that the National Construction Authority issued registration before mandatory approvals from county government and the National Environment Management Authority were secured. Additional floors were approved without proof of structural review. The developer was listed as the engineer, raising red flags about conflict of interest. Construction continued despite enforcement notices issued in May, July and December 2025.

“Looking at the rubble, it is clear this was a poor job. Everybody involved took shortcuts. The county bears responsibility for approving four additional floors when the building was nearly complete,” said Lands and Public Works Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome.

A human rights activist has now petitioned the High Court to remove NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech, alleging regulatory failures that contributed to building collapses. Francis Awino argues that Akech is unfit for office due to alleged negligence, incompetence and failure to enforce construction laws despite repeated warnings.

The professionals warned that without immediate and comprehensive reforms, the question is not if another building will collapse, but when. Since 1990, over 200 people have lost their lives in building collapses, with thousands injured and the economy losing over Sh2.4 billion worth of investments.

“The audit must go beyond this incident to examine systemic failures. If we do not address this mess comprehensively, we will forget this tragedy and another building will collapse,” Kiteme warned.

The professionals demanded accountability across the entire chain, from developers and contractors to county governments and regulatory agencies. They called for the blacklisting of rogue contractors, public disclosure of unsafe buildings, and criminal prosecution of those who cut corners.

As Nairobi’s skyline continues to sprout new towers at breakneck speed, the question haunting every resident is simple but terrifying: Is my building next?