Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called for the return of prosecution powers to county governments as the capital grapples with a worsening building safety crisis that continues to claim lives.
Speaking on the third day of rescue operations following a building collapse in South C, Sakaja acknowledged growing frustration among residents who have witnessed illegal and substandard constructions rise unchecked across the city.
“There are challenges expressed over time. The prosecution powers need to be returned to the county,” Sakaja said.
He observed that without direct authority, county officials must coordinate with national agencies, a process that can delay justice and allow negligent developers to escape accountability.
Accountability and professionalism
The Governor stressed that his administration will continue to uphold due process even amid crises. He outlined a system where developers bear legal responsibility for their projects through signed indemnities, ensuring that professionalism and safety remain non-negotiable.
“Once the approval is done, the developer signs an indemnity as professionalism is maintained. We will continue upholding the integrity,” Sakaja said.
However, he also highlighted the human cost of construction negligence:
“Someone must pay for all this. Lives lost will not be returned. No amount of prosecution or regulatory reform can restore what has been taken,” he added.
Preventing future tragedies
Sakaja explained that his administration is conducting investigations into buildings neighboring the collapsed structure. While these measures may displace some families, they are crucial for preventing future disasters.
“The house nearby the collapsed house will have to go through investigations to confirm suitability,” he said.
He further warned against knee-jerk demolitions that could destroy legitimate investments without proper evaluation.
“Bringing such an investment down without investigation is bad even to the owner,” Sakaja noted.
The search through rubble at the South C building collapse site continued Sunday, with Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku confirming the recovery of one victim’s body.
“We recognize the pain and anxiety that this tragedy has caused,” CS Ruku said at the site. “At 12:30 hours of the recovery process, the body of a young adult was recovered.”
The CS reported that rescuers are making progress: “The search and rescue is ongoing. The operation is about 70 percent complete.”
He cautioned that the work requires careful handling, noting that “This operation is delicate. The operation may take some reasonable time to conclude.”
“We cannot tire to commend the work done by search and rescue team as well as the first responders. We thank South C residents and general public for the patience.”
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