The National Construction Authority (NCA) has ordered the demolition of a five-storey building in Nairobi's Roysambu estate after an inspection deemed it a public safety risk. The structure has developed severe cracks and stands meters from Mirema Primary School, endangering thousands of pupils. The owner ignored compliance orders issued since 2022.
The National Construction Authority (NCA), the National Disaster Management Department, and the Nairobi Urban Planning Department jointly determined on Thursday, February 19, 2026, that the five-storey building in Roysambu estate constitutes an imminent public hazard. An inspection revealed huge structural cracks, posing risks to thousands of nearby residents and pupils at the adjacent Mirema Primary School.
Nairobi City County Director of Planning and Enforcement, Tom Ochar, addressed the media at the site, stating, “We are here at Mirema Drive next to Mirema School, where a five-storey building is on the verge of collapse. After assessing the situation on the ground, we have resolved to bring it down because it is a disaster waiting to happen.” He noted that the owner had been given ample time since 2022 to implement corrective measures but took no action.
The county has faced criticism for inaction on numerous unsafe buildings at risk of collapse. This decision follows recent incidents, including on February 11, 2026, when a building under construction near the OTC along Kirinyaga Road partially collapsed, injuring six of 18 workers on site. Earlier, on January 2, 2026, a multi-storey building in South C collapsed in a pancake-style failure, killing two people. Eight days later, a residential building in Karen collapsed during concrete works, killing two workers due to alleged formwork failure and lack of proper registration.
The demolition order adheres to due process, including compliance notices issued to the owner over the past three years, aiming to ensure safety for residents and schoolchildren.
