Nairobi, Kenya – The Built Environment Professional Association (BEPA) has placed full responsibility for the recent building collapse in Nairobi’s South C area on the developer and professionals involved, ruling out any possibility that the incident was an act of nature.

Addressing the media on Thursday morning in Nairobi, BEPA—an umbrella body bringing together key professional organisations including the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (IQSK), and other stakeholders—said preliminary findings point to human failure as the primary cause of the collapse.

In a joint press statement, the association cited possible breaches of building codes, poor workmanship, unauthorised design changes, and disregard for approved construction standards as contributing factors.

“From the evidence available so far, this incident cannot be classified as a natural disaster. Buildings do not collapse on their own—construction involves science. This was a preventable tragedy,” said Institution of Engineers of Kenya President, Eng. Shammah Kiteme.

The professionals emphasised that Kenya has clear building regulations and well-established professional standards which, if properly followed, guarantee structural integrity and public safety. They noted that many building failures arise from the use of substandard materials, inadequate supervision, cost-cutting at the expense of safety, and failure to adhere to approved designs.

BEPA further stated that the developer bears primary legal and moral responsibility for ensuring all necessary approvals are obtained, qualified professionals are engaged, and construction strictly follows approved plans.

“The developer is legally and morally obligated to ensure compliance at every stage of construction. Any attempt to shift blame to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances is misleading,” said Architects Alliance President, Sen. Sylvia Kasanga.

The association called on investigative agencies to conduct thorough, transparent, and independent investigations into the collapse, urging that all culpable parties be held accountable. These include developers, contractors, consultants, and county officials found to have failed in their oversight roles.

BEPA also urged county governments to strengthen inspection and enforcement mechanisms, warning that repeated building collapses across the country point to systemic enforcement failures rather than unavoidable accidents.

“As professionals, we cannot normalise loss of life through negligence. Accountability must be enforced to restore public confidence and safeguard lives,” said Association of Construction Managers of Kenya President, Ephraim Kakui.

The association reiterated its commitment to working with authorities to promote compliance, professionalism, and safety within Kenya’s construction sector, stressing that preventable tragedies must not be allowed to continue.