Owner of collapsed South C building identified

Rescue efforts at the collapsed building in South C Nairobi on January 2,2026. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Authorities have identified Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf as the owner of the multi-storey  building that collapsed in South C, Nairobi, killing four people.

The National Construction Authority (NCA) said Yussuf is the sole director of Abyaan Consulting Limited, the firm that was both the developer and contractor of the project. 

According to the Authority, the company is registered under NCA Category 4 for building works.

In a statement, NCA Executive Director and Registrar of Contractors Eng. Maurice Akech said the structure was a proposed mixed-use development on plot number 68/1306, South C Ward. 

The project was registered with the Authority on November 8, 2023, but was non-compliant at the time of the collapse.

“The consultants associated with the project are architect Gideon Chege Mwangi, engineer Peter Kimani Kireru and quantity surveyor James Kirika Njoroge,” Eng. Akech said.

By the time of issuing the statement, search-and-rescue operations and site-securing activities were ongoing, with emergency and security agencies working jointly at the scene. 

NCA said it would release a comprehensive report once investigations are concluded, reiterating its commitment to public safety, accountability in the construction industry and strict enforcement of compliance standards.

Meanwhile, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku vowed stern action  against all individuals found culpable, citing preliminary findings that point to gross negligence and disregard of lawful construction orders.

Addressing journalists at the site, CS Ruku revealed that official approval documents allowed the building to have a maximum of 12 floors, yet it had already reached the 14th floor at the time it collapsed.

“This deviation from the approved plans is a key line of inquiry. According to the documents we have, the building was supposed to go up to 12 floors, but it had reached 14. Preliminary investigations indicate the collapse may have been caused by column overload,” Ruku said.

On the rescue effort, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that four people are suspected to be trapped beneath the rubble. They include two watchmen, whose relatives were present at the scene, and two pedestrians who were in a taxi near the building when it came down.