Eastleigh Building Owner Revealed as Police Hunt for Those Behind Deadly Collapse

The family linked to the ownership of the building that collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, has been identified as investigations continue into the tragedy that left several people feared trapped beneath the rubble.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the property belonged to the estate of the late Wilson Mutia Musyoki. He added that county records showed that John Mutia Musyoki was the developer on record for the proposed multi-storey building.

According to Sakaja, the property owners obtained approval for a change of user in 2024. However, a subsequent application to construct a 15-storey building with a basement was never approved by the county government.

The governor said the county had reviewed the available documents and forwarded relevant records to investigators to establish how construction proceeded despite the absence of the required approval.

The National Construction Authority (NCA) separately identified 9th Street Plaza Limited as the developer listed in its records and Stromax Holdings E.A Limited as the contractor responsible for the proposed development.

The authority also named architect Emmanuel Mwangi Maina and structural engineer Joseph Muturi Mugu among the professionals listed in the project’s documentation.

The NCA said the development was registered on July 30, 2025. However, its statement did not establish whether the parties named in the records had violated construction requirements or contributed to the collapse.

Police have indicated that the building’s owner and individuals who authorised its construction could face charges if investigations establish criminal negligence.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said investigators would examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine the responsibility of each party involved.

The incident has also raised questions about the enforcement of construction regulations in Nairobi, particularly after Sakaja said the building lacked an occupation certificate, which is required before a building can legally be occupied.

The governor further disclosed that an enforcement order had been issued earlier in 2026, raising questions about why construction continued.

The building collapsed on Friday, October 23, along 9th Street in Eastleigh while construction was ongoing. Some shops on the ground floor and in the basement were reportedly occupied when the structure came down.

Rescue teams continued searching through the rubble as authorities worked to account for people reported missing following the incident.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, and no final determination of criminal responsibility has been announced.

https://www.pulse.co.ke/story/eastleigh-building-collapse-identity-of-the-owner-and-names-behind-project-revealed-2026102403592968476

Antoblog feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com