Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has called on professional bodies representing architects, engineers and quantity surveyors to report cases where professionals are withdrawn from approved construction projects, warning that some developers dismiss them and proceed with unauthorised works.

Following the collapse of a 12-storey building along 1st Avenue, 9th Street, in Eastleigh, Sakaja renewed his call for the restoration of prosecutorial powers to counties, saying weak penalties, including fines as low as Sh5,000, fail to deter violations of building regulations.

The Governor said some developers engage qualified professionals to secure construction approvals before dismissing them and disregarding approved plans and safety standards.

He urged professional bodies to strengthen oversight, investigate such cases and take appropriate disciplinary action. He also stressed that developers must comply with approved designs, engage qualified personnel and obtain occupation certificates after safety inspections.

Meanwhile, Nairobi City County emergency teams, working alongside the National Disaster Operations Centre, Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces and other agencies, continued search and rescue operations at the Eastleigh site, with heavy machinery deployed to clear debris.

Sakaja said county health teams were on standby to assist victims and urged families of missing persons to report to designated centres at the scene. Residents were advised to use the county emergency hotlines, 1508 and 1199, to share information.