Before You Rent: Oburu’s Three-Point Warning After the Eastleigh Building Collapse

ODM chairperson Oburu Oginga has called for stronger building-safety checks, action against developers who flout construction standards and accountability for officials responsible for oversight after an 18-storey building collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

In a statement on Tuesday, Oburu blamed regulatory failures and greed for the disaster. He said authorities must put human life ahead of profit and fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

“I am deeply pained by the tragedy of the collapsed 18-storey building in Kamukunji. This disaster is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of regulatory failure and greed,” he said.

Oburu expressed sympathy for families who lost loved ones and praised rescue teams from various agencies for continuing to search for people trapped beneath the rubble.

“While we demand full accountability, we deeply empathize with the families that have lost loved ones, and we commend the relentless work being done by the rescue teams from our different agencies on the ground,” he said.

He identified tenant verification as one of three urgent measures, urging prospective tenants to confirm that buildings have passed safety and occupancy checks before moving in.

“Moving forward, we must urgently address three critical issues. First, tenant verification: before moving into any building, tenants must verify that it has officially passed all safety and occupation compliance checks. No one should risk their life because corners were cut,” he said.

Oburu also called on authorities to crack down on developers and contractors who compromise structural safety for quick profits or take dangerous shortcuts. He said officials responsible for overseeing construction should face scrutiny if they allow unsafe buildings to be built.

“The regulatory authorities charged with oversight must be held fully accountable for turning a blind eye to substandard construction,” he said.

He called for a thorough investigation and legal action against anyone found responsible.

“We demand a thorough investigation and strict legal action against all culpable parties. Lives must always come before profit,” he said.

By Tuesday afternoon, rescue teams had pulled four people from the building, which was still under construction when it collapsed on Friday, October 23, 2026. The collapse trapped construction workers and business operators.

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