Former Nairobi Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria received a warm welcome when he arrived at the scene of a building collapse in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
The 16-storey building, which was still under construction, came down on 9th Street shortly after 1:09 pm, leaving several people feared trapped under the rubble.
Mosiria arrived as rescue teams searched for survivors. Videos from the scene showed a large crowd surrounding him, clearing the way and shouting his name.
Some residents chanted “governor,” days after he declared interest in contesting the Nairobi governor seat in 2027.
At one point, he was carried on a boda boda through the packed area as excited supporters followed him.
The former chief officer expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. He said the disaster raised serious questions about corruption, impunity and weak enforcement of construction rules in Nairobi.
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Mosiria criticised City Hall’s oversight of building projects and claimed there was corruption in the approval process.
He said approvals should be based on professional assessments and safety standards, not political influence.
He also called on President William Ruto to support independent investigations and stronger enforcement of construction regulations.
He further claimed that some developers had complained about the high cost of getting building approvals, saying payments could reach Sh56 million or more.
He alleged that some foreign developers paid up to Sh92 million. These claims have not been independently verified.
The building collapsed in the busy Eastleigh area while construction workers were on the upper floors.
Witnesses said the structure fell with a loud crash, sending dust into the air. Two injured people, a man and a woman, were rescued and taken to hospital as the search continued.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building was around 16 floors and had county approval but had not been cleared for occupation.
He said rescue equipment, including excavators and breakers, had been mobilised to remove heavy debris and save lives.
Police Commander Issa Mohamud said investigations would be carried out to establish who was responsible for any negligence.
Mosiria was removed from his position as Chief Officer for Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service in a County Hall reshuffle move.
The changes were announced in a circular signed by County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr Machel Waikenda, with Zipporah Njeri Mwangi taking over the docket in an acting capacity.
His removal came days after he announced plans to challenge Sakaja for the Nairobi governor seat in the 2027 General Election. The circular did not give a reason for the changes.
Mosiria later accused Sakaja of sidelining him for nearly three years. He said his responsibilities and budget were reduced after disagreements over how county affairs were handled, claims the governor’s office has not publicly confirmed.