The Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK) has called for stricter enforcement of building regulations and increased construction site inspections following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
In a statement issued on Saturday, ACEK President Eng. Gabriel W. Jabong’o said the tragedy highlighted the need to strengthen oversight of construction projects and ensure developers engage qualified professionals throughout the building process.
The association expressed condolences to affected families, workers and businesses, while calling for continued rescue operations to locate those still missing.
ACEK said rescue teams had established contact with some of the missing persons, with efforts to reach them ongoing. It also wished those injured a quick recovery and commended emergency responders, including the Kenya Red Cross, National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, Nairobi City County and the National Youth Service, for their efforts.
The association cautioned against speculation over the cause of the collapse, saying a detailed forensic engineering investigation was necessary to establish what went wrong.
It identified possible factors associated with building collapses, including structural design deficiencies, poor workmanship, substandard materials, weak foundations, inadequate supervision and failure to comply with approved construction plans and building regulations.
Other potential causes include overloading, unauthorised alterations and weaknesses in inspection and enforcement systems.
ACEK called for stricter enforcement of building codes, increased oversight by county governments and regulatory agencies, more frequent site inspections and stronger accountability for developers, contractors, consultants and supervisors.
It also recommended the adoption of digital construction monitoring and compliance systems, alongside greater public awareness of the dangers of unauthorised developments.
The association urged developers, investors and project owners to engage qualified and registered consulting engineers from the initial design stages through construction supervision and project completion.
It said professional design, independent supervision, adherence to approved specifications and continuous quality control were essential safeguards against structural failures.
“Public safety must never be compromised in the pursuit of expediency or cost savings,” ACEK said, emphasising that the cost of professional design and supervision was insignificant compared with the potential human, social and economic consequences of a building collapse.
On accountability, ACEK said no individual or organisation should be blamed before investigations were concluded.
It noted that responsibility could extend to developers, contractors, design consultants, site supervisors or regulatory authorities if evidence established that their actions or omissions contributed to the collapse.
The association stressed that any accountability measures should be based on evidence and due process rather than speculation.
ACEK said it was ready to support relevant authorities, professional bodies and investigative agencies in establishing the cause of the incident and identifying measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The statement comes amid renewed concerns over construction safety and the enforcement of building standards following the Eastleigh incident.
