The sordid reality of Nairobi’s uninspected high rises

The collapse of an 18-storey building in Eastleigh exposed the structural and administrative vulnerabilities defining the city's construction sector

The collapsed 18-storey building along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026 /EZEKIEL AMING'A

Nairobi's skyline is expanding at an unprecedented rate, but the regulatory oversight required to protect human lives is failing to keep pace.

As emergency responders navigated unstable concrete to locate survivors, the incident shifted public focus away from architectural growth towards deep-seated institutional gaps and enforcement failures.

For how long will the greedy actions of individuals continue killing innocent Kenyans?

For how long will the government fail to do its due diligence in ensuring lives are not lost due to the use of substandard building materials?

At times, we as Kenyans blame God for silly mistakes that we actively tolerate.

Source: The Star