Oburu cites greed in Eastleigh building collapse, proposes three safety measures

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga. (Photo: Oburu/X)

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Chairperson Oburu Oginga has outlined three critical issues that he says must be addressed to prevent similar tragedies following the collapse of an 18-storey building in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

In a statement on Tuesday, Oburu blamed regulatory failures and greed for the disaster, calling for stronger checks on building safety, action against developers who ignore construction standards and accountability for authorities responsible for overseeing construction.

Oburu said the tragedy highlighted the need to put human life ahead of profits and called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

“I am deeply pained by the tragedy of the collapsed 18-storey building in Kamukunji. This disaster is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of regulatory failure and greed,” he said.

He expressed sympathy for families who had lost loved ones and praised rescue teams from different agencies for their continued efforts to find people trapped beneath the rubble.

“While we demand full accountability, we deeply empathise with the families that have lost loved ones, and we commend the relentless work being done by the rescue teams from our different agencies on the ground,” he said.

The ODM chairperson identified tenant verification as the first measure needed to improve building safety, urging people to establish whether buildings have met the required safety and occupation standards before moving in.

“Moving forward, we must urgently address three critical issues. First, tenant verification: before moving into any building, tenants must verify that it has officially passed all safety and occupation compliance checks. No one should risk their life because corners were cut,” he said.

He also called for an end to unscrupulous developers and contractors who compromise structural integrity for quick profits and take dangerous shortcuts.

Additionally, Oburu called for accountability among regulatory authorities responsible for ensuring construction work meets the required standards, saying officials should face scrutiny if they allow unsafe buildings to be constructed.

“The regulatory authorities charged with oversight must be held fully accountable for turning a blind eye to substandard construction,” he said.

He demanded a detailed investigation into the collapse and legal action against those found responsible.

“We demand a thorough investigation and strict legal action against all culpable parties. Lives must always come before profit,” he said.

So far, four people have been rescued from the collapsed building, which was still under construction when it came down on Friday, October 23, 2026, trapping construction workers and business operators.

The search and rescue operation has continued as teams work to establish the number of people still missing and determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.

Authorities are using phone signals and information provided by families to trace people reported missing.

According to Nairobi North Regional County Commissioner Simon Osumba, 52 people had been reported missing by their relatives, with 30 accounted for, while efforts continued to establish the whereabouts of the remaining 20.

He said the Kenya Red Cross Society had helped reunite some people reported missing with their families. The organisation and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were also working to trace those whose whereabouts remained unknown.

“Kenya Red Cross and DCI are tracing the 20 missing people using the phone numbers given,” Osumba said.

Osumba said technology was helping authorities verify reports and establish the whereabouts of everyone whose family had raised concerns. He added that the teams were working to confirm the figures as the rescue operation continued in its fifth day.