Residents of South C, Nairobi, staged a peaceful demonstration on Monday following the tragic collapse of a residential building along Muhoho Avenue earlier this year. The protest, which culminated at Uhuru Park, brought together community members, local leaders, and activists demanding accountability and stricter enforcement of construction regulations.
Residents warned that another building in the area is currently at risk of collapsing, urging relevant authorities to intervene immediately to avert a potential disaster. Organizers of the demonstration called for thorough investigations into the earlier incident, pressing authorities to take swift action against those found responsible. They also urged government agencies to strengthen oversight mechanisms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The South C Residents Association, which spearheaded the protest, insisted that the safety of residents must be treated as a priority rather than an afterthought.
In January this year, professionals within the building and construction industry painted a grim picture of the state of buildings in the country, revealing that over 85 percent of buildings within Nairobi City are unsafe for occupation. This alarming statistic has heightened concerns among residents, many of whom live in fear that their own homes could collapse at any moment.
The January collapse along Muhoho Avenue was not an isolated incident. Kenya has witnessed several building disasters over the past decade, often attributed to poor workmanship, substandard materials, corruption in approval processes, and disregard for zoning and structural regulations. Many developers have been accused of bypassing county oversight by erecting illegal structures or making unauthorized modifications.
Despite repeated government assurances of crackdowns on illegal constructions, enforcement remains weak. Residents now want more than promises. They are demanding prosecutions, demolition of unsafe structures, and a comprehensive audit of all buildings in the city.
As the protest concluded, association leaders handed a memorandum to county officials, outlining their demands and setting a deadline for response. “We will not wait for another tragedy,” one resident said. “How many more must die before someone acts?”
