Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has received a detailed report from a multi-sectoral task force probing the recent building collapse in the county.
He assured the public that all those found responsible will face legal and disciplinary action.
The report was prepared by a team led by Architect Lawrence Gitau from the National Building Inspectorate and composed of professionals from the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Kenya Institute of Planners, the National Construction Authority, and other regulatory agencies.
The eleven-storey building, which collapsed on 2nd April, led to the loss of one businessman’s life and prompted an unprecedented controlled demolition of the remaining structure to ensure public safety.
Governor Nassir emphasised the seriousness of the incident and pledged that the findings would not be ignored.
“The people of Mombasa deserve answers, and this report cannot be swept under the carpet,” he said. “This is an independent report that was not influenced by the county, and we will act on its recommendations,” he emphasised.
According to the findings, the structural flaws in the collapsed building originated from the design stage. The task force revealed that the architect whose stamp was used in the approval process was not the actual designer of the building.
Architect Kinuthia, an employee of the County Government is the one who approved the building. He has since been suspended pending further action by the County Public Service Board.
The report identifies Mr Wallah Kinyanasia as the individual who obtained the initial building approval, but construction was carried out by Mr Samji Varsami. “This was a coordinated scheme involving a small clique of rogue architects and engineers,” said Governor Nassir, adding that the county will formally request professional bodies to investigate all parties involved.
The report also highlights systemic weaknesses in the construction and regulatory sectors, pointing to poor supervision, misuse of professional credentials, weak enforcement of building standards, and outdated approval processes.
It also provides a bold roadmap for strengthening oversight and building safer, more accountable urban environments.
In response, the county government has initiated key reforms, including the recruitment of 11 additional building inspectors.
“We will now require all inspections to be conducted by county officials,” the governor said, noting that the county intends to integrate its construction approval system with national regulatory platforms, including the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) and the Engineers Board of Kenya.
Governor Nassir further announced that all ongoing projects linked to the implicated individuals will undergo structural integrity assessments.
“These tests will be conducted at the investor’s cost, and the county will pursue legal action against the developers to recover all expenses related to the emergency response and demolition,” he stated.
“If we find even an inch of fault in any ongoing project, we will halt construction. It’s better for the developers who have chosen shortcuts to bear financial losses than to risk the lives of innocent citizens,” he added.
So far, construction has been halted on approximately 100 buildings across Mombasa County linked to the same group of individuals. Authorities have also issued six arrest warrants against developers who defied stop orders and continued with illegal construction activities. Two county staff members are currently facing disciplinary proceedings in connection with the matter.
Taskforce Chair Architect Gitau commended the governor’s leadership and said the team had recommended mandatory geotechnical surveys for all high-rise buildings in the county, especially the Island, to determine ground suitability before construction begins.
“We hope these recommendations will be adopted by other counties to prevent similar tragedies,” he said.
The task force’s findings and recommendations will be forwarded to the Council of Governors, the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Architectural Association of Kenya, and the National Construction Authority to help prevent the recurrence of similar incidents across the country.
By Sitati Reagan
