Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called for the restoration of prosecution powers to county governments, arguing that the absence of direct legal authority has undermined efforts to curb unsafe construction practices in the capital.
Speaking on the third day of rescue operations following the collapse of a building in South C, Sakaja acknowledged public anger and grief as Nairobi continues to grapple with a building safety crisis that has cost lives and eroded confidence in regulatory systems.
The Governor said longstanding structural gaps in enforcement have allowed illegal and substandard developments to flourish, warning that counties remain constrained without the ability to prosecute offenders independently.
“There have been challenges expressed over time. The prosecution powers need to be returned to the county,” Sakaja said. He noted that reliance on national agencies often leads to delays, creating opportunities for non-compliant developers to evade accountability.
Despite the pressure for swift action, Sakaja stressed that his administration would continue to uphold due process. He said all approved developments are required to be backed by signed indemnities, placing legal responsibility squarely on developers.
“Once the approval is done, the developer signs an indemnity as professionalism is maintained. We will continue upholding integrity,” he said.
However, the Governor was unequivocal that accountability must follow tragedy. “Someone must pay for all this. Lives lost will not be returned,” he said, underscoring the gravity of the situation confronting affected families.
Sakaja acknowledged that no regulatory action or prosecution can undo the loss of life, but maintained that accountability is both a moral imperative and a deterrent against future negligence.
As part of ongoing safety measures, the county government is assessing buildings adjacent to the collapsed structure to determine their structural integrity. Sakaja admitted that the process may inconvenience residents but said it is necessary to avert further loss of life.
“The house nearby the collapsed house will have to go through investigations to confirm suitability,” he said.
At the same time, he cautioned against indiscriminate demolitions, warning that tearing down buildings without proper investigations could unfairly harm compliant property owners.
“Bringing such an investment down without investigation is bad even to the owner,” Sakaja said, emphasising the need to balance urgency with fairness as the city confronts its construction safety challenges.
