Babu Owino Releases Eastleigh Building Approval Documents, Alleges KSh 120m Bribe

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has shared documents he says show that the multi storey building that collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, had received county approval, accusing Governor Johnson Sakaja of misleading Kenyans and alleging that a KSh 120 million bribe changed hands.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, October 25, Owino published a document bearing Application No. PLUPA COU 000821 N, issued under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019. The document identifies Sakina Star Ltd as the applicant and records an approval date of February 13, 2024, for a proposed development on Plot LR No. 36/II/40 along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Kamukunji Sub county.

According to the document shared by the lawmaker, the proposed development included 35 residential units, a restaurant, a mosque and shops.

Owino argued that the document contradicted Sakaja’s statements that Nairobi City County had not approved the building’s construction. He called on the governor to take responsibility following the collapse.

The MP further alleged that Sakaja received a KSh 120 million bribe to allow the development to proceed. However, the bribery allegation has not been independently established, and the document shared by Owino does not, on its own, prove that any bribe was paid.

Sakaja has maintained that the county approved a change of use for the property but did not approve the architectural plans for the multi storey building.

The governor said the change of use from residential to commercial residential was approved on October 17, 2024. He added that an application submitted in 2024 seeking permission to construct a 15 storey building with a basement was never approved by the county.

According to Sakaja, the building had reached 18 floors by the time it collapsed on Friday, October 23.

The conflicting accounts have raised questions about the nature and scope of the document released by Owino, as well as whether the required construction approvals were obtained. Resolving the dispute will require verification of the original county records and the approvals issued for the project.

The controversy comes as rescue teams continue searching the rubble of the collapsed structure on 9th Street in Eastleigh.

TUKO reported that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had confirmed that 67 construction workers were at the site when the building collapsed. Of those, 66 reportedly escaped without injury, while one was hospitalised in stable condition. Seven people were reported missing in the same account, as rescuers worked to reach those believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

The National Construction Authority had identified Stromax Holdings E.A. Limited as the contractor listed in its project records, with Emmanuel Mwangi Maina named as the architect and Joseph Muturi Mugu as the structural engineer. The authority’s records also listed 9th Street Plaza Limited as the developer. These listings identify the parties associated with the project but do not, by themselves, establish responsibility for the collapse.

As investigations continue, attention is turning to the approval process, the role of the relevant authorities and whether the documents used during the development complied with construction regulations.

The allegation of a KSh 120 million bribe remains unverified, while the disagreement over the building’s approval status requires clarification through official records and the ongoing investigations.

https://www.tuko.co.ke/kenya/counties/644406-babu-owino-shares-approval-documents-collapsed-eastleigh-building-claims-ksh-120m-bribe-changed-hands/

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