The Architects Alliance has urged nationwide safety checks following the building collapse in Eastleigh.
The Architects Alliance wants urgent safety checks, public investigation findings and coordinated reforms to prevent further building failures.
The Architects Alliance (TAA) has called for an urgent nationwide building audit following the Eastleigh collapse in Nairobi. It also wants comprehensive construction reforms to address weaknesses in approvals, inspections and enforcement.
In a statement issued on Saturday, TAA president Sen. Dr Sylvia Kasanga urged authorities to prioritise prevention. The alliance said the October 23, 2026 incident underscored the need to address longstanding building safety gaps.
Meanwhile, TAA urged authorities to prioritise rescue operations, check surrounding structures and provide timely public updates. It expressed sympathy for affected workers, neighbouring residents, property owners and the wider Eastleigh community.
Eastleigh collapse prompts call for independent inquiry
The alliance called for an independent technical investigation to establish the precise cause of the collapse. It wants investigators to publish findings covering approvals, construction supervision, inspections and any enforcement action.
Alongside that inquiry, TAA urged national and county governments to audit existing buildings and ongoing developments. The checks should prioritise densely populated urban areas and buildings showing signs of structural distress.
However, the organisation warned that investigations, arrests and short-term enforcement campaigns alone would not address underlying problems. It said recurring collapses raised broader questions about the effectiveness of construction oversight institutions.
TAA recalled raising similar concerns after the January building collapse in South C and again in June. Those concerns covered development approvals, professional supervision, inspections and enforcement.
Reforms across the construction process
The alliance wants reforms covering design, approvals, construction, supervision, inspections and certification before occupation. It also called for lawful consequences for anyone responsible for negligence, professional misconduct, corruption or other unlawful conduct.
However, TAA said accountability after disasters must accompany measures that prevent unsafe construction and occupation. It proposed strengthening Nairobi’s Office of the City Architect and establishing equivalent chief architect offices in counties.
For national coordination, it urged the National Construction Authority, Parliament, professional associations and other stakeholders to work together. The Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors should also join a programme to prevent building failures.
Public reports and time-bound action
TAA proposed a national framework for investigating and preventing building failures, with publicly accessible records. These would track technical findings, recommendations, responsible institutions and progress on corrective action.
It also sought publication of previous collapse investigation reports, including identified causes and subsequent action. The alliance said Kenyans deserved clarity on whether earlier inquiries had produced meaningful reforms.
In addition, it advocated independent, profession-specific regulation to uphold competence, ethics and accountability without undue interference. TAA urged the government to convene regulators, professional bodies, developers and contractors to agree on time-bound reforms.
The organisation offered its expertise and policy proposals to support that work. Ultimately, it said authorities should measure progress through lives protected and building failures prevented.
