Mirema Building Developer Arrested After Sakaja Exposes Him
The arrest comes after Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja broke his silence regarding the collapse of the building, revealing intrigues behind its developer.
Marvin Chege 
The contractor of a 10-storey building under construction which collapsed in the Mirema estate in Nairobi County on Sunday night, September 24 has been arrested.
The developer was arrested for contravening section 16 of the building code, Physical & Land Use Planning Act (2019).
The arrest comes after Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja broke his silence regarding the collapse of the building, revealing intrigues behind its developer.
In a statement seen by Viral Tea dated Tuesday, September 26, Sakaja, through Acting County Secretary and Head of County Public Service, Patrick Analo Akivaga, confirmed that the collapsed building was owned by Joseph Wakiri as per records in the possession of the county government.
Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja speaking during the commissioning of the NHC Langata Water project on August 7, 2023. /JOHNSON SAKAJA
The National Construction Authority (NCA) had earlier revealed that Wakiri was the developer while the consultants on record were Arch. Lawrence Maina Mwangi (A637), Eng. Anthony Macharia Gatune (A2619) and QS Joseph Karume Ireri (Q615). The contractor was revealed to be Wamie Construction Limited.
"The Nairobi City County Government’s Urban Planning department approved the application for the development of multi-dwelling houses (Flats)for Apartments. At the time the buildings collapsed, only 9 floors had been constructed. No lives were lost, and no one was injured.
"We have established that the developer carried out the development contrary to section 16 of the Building Code & Physical & Land Use Planning Act (2019). The developer had resisted past attempts for arrest by authorities & arraignment in court for illegalities," the statement read in part.
The county government added that it has since secured the site and taken samples to the National Building Inspectorate (NBI) for testing and results are expected as soon as possible.
Sakaja's administration also established that there was no evidence of supervision from both the Architect and Engineer.
The contractor/developer was arrested and arraigned in court and given cash bail of Ksh500,000. He is currently remanded in Nairobi West remand prison.
NCA Executive Director Maurice Akech initially revealed that a preliminary assessment of the collapse pointed to poor structural concrete used in the construction.
"At approximately 11:00 pm on Sunday, 24th September 2023, a ten-storey residential building under construction collapsed. The building was located on Mirema Drive, Zimmerman Area, Roysambu Constituency, Nairobi County.
"No casualties were reported. However, there was damage to an adjacent building, a vehicle as well as Kenya Power and Lighting Company infrastructure," NCA revealed, without disclosing the extent of the damage.
NCA further indicated that the building was registered with the organisation and was intended to be a 12-storey residential building before its collapse.
