Over 80 per cent of city buildings unsafe due to graft, experts warn

Rescue operation at the collapsed building in South C, Nairobi, on January 7, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] 

As investigations into the collapse of a building in South C continues, professional associations in the built environment have painted a grim picture of construction safety in Nairobi, warning that only 15 per cent of buildings in the city are structurally safe.

Speaking during a press briefing, professionals drawn from engineering, architecture, physical planning, surveying, interior design, valuation and construction management said the city is on a ticking time bomb caused by corruption, weak governance and the systematic sidelining of qualified experts.