The Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK) has challenged Nairobi City County to take greater responsibility for enforcing building regulations, warning that authorities cannot continue blaming rogue developers while failing to prevent unsafe construction.
The engineers’ concerns have emerged following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, which has renewed scrutiny of building approvals, site inspections and the enforcement of construction standards.
ACEK says the tragedy exposes gaps in the country’s construction oversight system, calling on the county government and other regulatory agencies to strengthen inspections and hold developers, contractors and professionals accountable where violations are established.
In a pointed message to City Hall, Eng. Grace criticised authorities for suggesting that rogue developers were difficult to control, arguing that county and national governments have the legal powers and responsibility to enforce compliance.
“It is a bit disingenuous to tell us that our government is not able to take action against certain rogue individuals,”  Eng. Grace said.
“That is not the kind of message that we should be sending to our people.”
The remarks highlight growing tension over the responsibility of county authorities and construction professionals in preventing building failures, particularly where questions arise over approvals, supervision and compliance with approved plans.
ACEK offers free investigation
ACEK says it remains ready to assist authorities in establishing what caused the Eastleigh building to collapse and identifying measures that could prevent similar incidents.
The association said its offer to provide engineers for an investigation without charging for their services remained open, with the next step resting on the county government.
“That offer is still there. The offer is on the table. It is up to City Hall to take it up,” Eng. Jabong’o said.
The association wants the investigation to go beyond identifying the immediate cause of the collapse and examine weaknesses in the wider construction approval and enforcement system.
The association also questioned whether county governments have sufficient personnel to supervise the growing number of construction projects, noting that effective enforcement requires more than issuing approvals.
“I also don’t think that City Hall, or any county government, has enough staff to do supervising ,” Eng. Jabong’o said.
However, ACEK cautioned against assigning blame before investigations establish the circumstances surrounding the Eastleigh incident.
Building approvals and enforcement under scrutiny
The collapse has renewed questions about whether buildings are constructed according to approved designs, whether the materials used meet the required standards and whether inspections are conducted throughout the construction process.
ACEK President Eng. Gabriel W. Jabong’o said it would be premature to speculate on the cause before a forensic engineering investigation is completed.
In a press statement issued on October 24, 2026, Jabong’o identified potential causes of building collapses as structural design deficiencies, poor workmanship, substandard materials, deviations from approved drawings, inadequate supervision, overloading and weak foundations.
He also cited failure to comply with building regulations and inadequate inspection and enforcement mechanisms as possible contributing factors.
The president called for stricter enforcement of building codes, increased site inspections and greater accountability for developers, contractors, consultants and supervisors.
“Public safety must never be compromised in the pursuit of expediency or cost savings,” Jabong’o said.
He urged developers to engage qualified and registered consulting engineers from the initial design stage through construction and completion.
Engineers warn against shortcuts
ACEK has also warned developers against compromising construction standards in an attempt to reduce costs or accelerate projects.
According to the association’s secretary, proper construction requires continuous checks on designs, building materials and workmanship, with the relevant stages approved before work proceeds to the next phase.
ACEK said developers must follow professional advice and avoid unauthorised changes to approved designs, including adding floors beyond what a building was designed to support.
The association argues that the cost of engaging qualified professionals is insignificant compared with the financial and human consequences of a building collapse.
It further called for lessons from previous building failures to be documented and shared, saying authorities should use investigations to identify systemic weaknesses rather than allow blame-shifting to continue.
Who should be held accountable?
ACEK maintains that responsibility for the Eastleigh collapse should be established through evidence and due process.
Depending on the findings, the association says accountability could extend to the developer, contractor, design consultants, site supervisors or regulatory authorities if failures in approvals or enforcement are proven.
The association also raised concerns about cases in which engineers’ names, signatures or professional stamps may have been used without their authorisation to associate them with construction projects.
According to ACEK, the National Construction Authority (NCA) has a role in verifying engineers assigned to projects and investigating cases where professionals dispute having approved or supervised particular developments.
ACEK says regulatory agencies must ensure that only qualified professionals are engaged and that the required approvals and construction procedures are followed.
The association is calling for stronger collaboration between county governments, national regulators and professional bodies to close enforcement gaps and prevent unsafe developments.
As rescue efforts and investigations continue following the Eastleigh collapse, the engineers say the priority should be saving lives, establishing the facts and ensuring that those found responsible face appropriate action.
ACEK has urged authorities to use the incident as an opportunity to strengthen construction oversight, insisting that preventing future tragedies requires effective enforcement, professional accountability and strict adherence to approved building standards.
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