Revealed: How Much the Developer Could Lose After Eastleigh Building Collapse, According to Experts

The developer of an 18-storey building that collapsed in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area on Friday, October 23, could have suffered losses of at least KSh150 million, according to the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK).

The incident has renewed concerns over construction safety, with engineers calling on Nairobi City County to strengthen enforcement of building regulations and ensure developers comply with approved construction standards.

ACEK secretary Dick Omondi said preliminary estimates placed the financial loss at a minimum of KSh150 million, adding that the collapse appeared to have resulted from the failure of structural supports.

“We are putting the loss at least Sh150 million. Hiring an engineer to oversee the project would have been cheaper,” Omondi said.

The association argued that engaging qualified professionals throughout construction could help prevent costly failures and protect lives.

Former ACEK chairperson Jane Mutulili criticised authorities for appearing to shift responsibility to rogue developers instead of taking decisive action to enforce existing laws.

She maintained that government agencies had the powers needed to hold those responsible for unsafe construction accountable.

ACEK president Gabriel Jabong’o said the association had offered to provide engineers to conduct a forensic investigation into the collapse at no cost. The offer, he noted, remained open as the association awaited a response from Nairobi City County.

Jabong’o cautioned against drawing conclusions before a technical investigation establishes what caused the building to fall.

Possible contributing factors include structural design deficiencies, poor workmanship, substandard materials, unauthorised changes to approved plans, inadequate supervision, overloading and weak foundations. Investigators would also need to examine whether approvals and site inspections were properly conducted.

The association further raised concerns about whether county governments had enough technical personnel to monitor the growing number of construction projects.

ACEK urged developers to engage qualified, registered consulting engineers from the design stage through construction and completion. It also called on the National Construction Authority to verify professionals attached to projects and investigate alleged misuse of engineers’ signatures and stamps.

Meanwhile, the Architects Alliance, led by president Sylvia Kasanga, called for an independent technical investigation, with findings on approvals, supervision and enforcement made public.

The investigation is expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether any parties failed in their professional or regulatory responsibilities.

Source: https://the-star.co.ke/news/2026-10-26-experts-eastleigh-building-developer-lost-at-least-sh150m

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