The second body was retrieved on Wednesday, January 7, from the rubble of the collapsed South C building in Nairobi, six days after the incident.
The recovery marked the near end of search and rescue operations that began on January 2, when the multi-storey structure collapsed, trapping occupants under debris and sparking widespread concern over building safety in the capital.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, who visited the site, confirmed that a third person who had been trapped in the building managed to escape unharmed.
“We are here six days after the incident. Today at 3:30 p.m., we recovered the second body of the security guard. We can now confirm that there were two people involved, and the third escaped unhurt,” Wahome said.
The CS Wahome noted that investigations were still ongoing and warned that action would be taken against those responsible once evidence gathering is complete. She said preliminary findings indicate that the additional illegal floors played a major role in the collapse.
“We are still gathering evidence, and we will take action against those behind the collapse. We are awaiting the National Construction Authority (NCA) report, and there are people who will have to carry the cross. We are embarking on action against poorly built buildings and quack construction experts,” she said.
She added that the county government also bears responsibility for approving the extra floors, describing the approvals as a serious failure. Wahome said she would make public the names of Nairobi County officials who approved the building once the NCA report is released.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the incident site would remain secured to allow investigators to complete their work.
“Two roads that were closed by debris are now being reopened. However, the incident site will continue to be secured for investigations,” Ruku said.
Area Member of County Assembly Abass Khalif demanded swift action against those responsible for the collapse, warning that similar buildings could pose a threat to residents if left unchecked.
He said the county assembly would push for a comprehensive audit of buildings that have already been approved and those currently under construction in Nairobi.
“When we open the assembly on February 14, we are going to summon the CEC for planning, chief officers, directors — all of them. Let investigations be done because if something like this can happen, what if it was a school day at Kongoni Primary School nearby?” Khalif said.
Detectives probing the case have issued summons to all parties involved in the project, as directed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigators are also awaiting a comprehensive report that will establish the exact cause of the collapse and guide the next course of action.
The 16-storey building collapsed on January 2, 2026, leaving two people trapped under the rubble and raising questions about whether it had received proper approvals from Nairobi County authorities.
Following the incident, the building’s developer, Abyan Consulting Limited, said the project had received approvals from relevant county and national agencies before construction began.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja later called for the return of prosecution powers to county governments to deal with the rising cases of illegal and substandard construction.
Meanwhile, local leaders noted that the architect behind the collapsed building could face deregistration if investigations establish criminal responsibility.
Three days after the collapse, the first body was retrieved from the rubble. The victim was identified as Ali Adan Galgalo, a security guard, and was later buried at Lang’ata Muslim Cemetery.
by CYRUS OMBATI
