NAIROBI,Kenya June 6 – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved criminal charges against several public officials, developers and professionals linked to the collapse of the Manzil Towers building in Nairobi’s South C area, six months after the tragedy claimed the lives of two security guards.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said it had reviewed the investigation file submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and found sufficient evidence to prosecute a number of suspects connected to the incident.
Among those set to be charged is Patrick Analo Akivaga, who will face counts of abuse of office and neglect of official duty under the Penal Code.
Analo was freed on Friday on a cash bail of Sh500,000 as investigations into corruption, unexplained wealth and money laundering intensify following the recovery of more than Sh65 million in cash during Thursday’s raid at his Syokimau residence.
The County official who spent Thursday night in custody at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) police station, was grilled by investigators before being processed and released pending completion of investigations.
His wife, who was also arrested during the operation, had earlier been released on a Sh100,000 cash bail on Thursday.
The latest developments came as Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja moved swiftly to suspend Analo from office and ordered a sweeping restructuring of the county’s urban planning approval system following recommendations by the anti-graft agency.
According to the ODPP, the charges stem from findings related to the approval, oversight and regulatory processes surrounding the construction project before it collapsed.
“The DPP has determined that there is sufficient evidence and a realistic prospect of conviction to warrant the prosecution of several suspects connected to the incident,” the statement said.
The prosecution has also approved charges against other public officials, developers and construction professionals for offences including manslaughter, abuse of office, neglect of official duty, making and uttering false documents, and commencing a project without an Environmental Impact Assessment licence.
The ODPP said the decision to charge was reached after an independent assessment of the evidence and was made in accordance with Article 157 of the Constitution, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act and the Decision to Charge Guidelines.
The accused persons are expected to be arraigned in court to answer to the charges.
Manzil Towers, located along Kiganjo Muhoho Avenue in the South C Shopping Centre area, collapsed at about 4 a.m. on January 2, 2026, while still under construction.
Investigations established that the building suffered a structural failure, triggering a massive search, rescue and recovery operation involving multiple agencies, including the Kenya Red Cross, the Kenya Defence Forces Disaster Response Battalion and the National Youth Service.
Rescue efforts continued for six days as emergency teams combed through the debris in search of survivors.
The operation ended with the recovery of two bodies from beneath the rubble, including that of a 27-year-old security guard who had been trapped when the structure gave way.
The collapse raised concerns over compliance with building regulations and the enforcement of construction standards in Nairobi, with authorities pledging accountability for those found responsible.
