DPP orders probe into South C building collapse, gives police 7 days to submit report

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga/FILE

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has ordered immediate investigations into the collapse of a building in South C, Nairobi, that occurred on January 2, 2026, as families continue to wait for news of their loved ones trapped under the debris.

In a press statement issued Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Director of Public Prosecutions said he had taken note of widespread reports in both mainstream and social media regarding the tragic incident, expressing “the greatest of concerns” over the loss and danger to life occasioned by the collapse.

“The DPP empathises with family members of those that were and are still trapped under the debris of the collapsed building, and sends to each of them his most sincere sympathies,” the statement said.

As part of efforts to ensure accountability, the DPP directed the Inspector General of Police (IG) to immediately initiate or fast-track investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Police have been given seven days to conclude inquiries and submit a comprehensive report to the ODPP for review and further action.

According to the statement, investigations will focus on establishing whether there were lapses or failures that enabled unsafe construction, with a view to holding all responsible persons to account, whether in the public or private sector.

The DPP further instructed the police to record statements from all relevant individuals, including the developer and contractor associated with the building, as well as officials responsible for approvals, inspections, and enforcement of building and construction standards.

“All relevant persons including the developer and the contractor, and the persons responsible for the relevant building and construction approvals, inspections and enforcement,” are to be interviewed, the statement noted, with the resultant investigation file forwarded to the ODPP within the same seven-day period.

The collapse has once again drawn attention to concerns over compliance with building regulations in Nairobi, where rapid urban development has sometimes outpaced enforcement and oversight.

Rescue operations and assessments at the South C site have been ongoing as authorities work to secure the area and account for all affected persons.

In reaffirming its role, the ODPP said it remains committed to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the public interest.

“The ODPP remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens in accordance with the rule of law, public interest and the administration of justice,” the statement said.

The directive from the DPP signals possible criminal proceedings should investigations establish culpability, as families, residents and the wider public await answers over how the building came down and who may bear responsibility for the tragedy.