The decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to approve criminal charges against dozens of individuals linked to the collapse of the Manzil Towers building marks a major step in the search for accountability following one of Nairobi’s most tragic construction disasters in recent years.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that it had completed an independent review of the investigation file submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regarding the January 2, 2026 collapse of the building in South C.
After reviewing the evidence, prosecutors concluded that there is sufficient proof to support criminal charges against several individuals connected to the project.
The ODPP stated that its decision was reached after a detailed examination of the evidence gathered by investigators and that there exists a realistic prospect of securing convictions against those found responsible.
Among those set to face prosecution is Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban Planning Patrick Analo Akivaga. He has been approved for charges of abuse of office and neglect of official duty.
His prosecution comes only days after he was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in a separate corruption-related investigation.
According to the charge sheet released by the ODPP, four individuals Daniel Alphonse Odhiambo, Gideon Chege Mwangi, Abdishakur Muse Mohamed and Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf will face manslaughter charges under the Penal Code.
The four are also accused of commencing the construction project without obtaining the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence as required by law.
The prosecution list includes 37 individuals who will face charges of abuse of office and another 37 accused of neglect of official duty.
Those named include county officials, regulatory officers, engineers, architects and other professionals involved in the planning, approval and implementation of the project.
Some suspects will also face document-related offences. Architect Gideon Chege Mwangi, together with Abdishakur Muse Mohamed and Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf, is accused of making false documents.
Mohamed and Yussuf will face additional charges of uttering false documents.
The ODPP said the approved charges cover a wide range of offences tied to the project, including manslaughter, abuse of office, neglect of official duty, making and uttering false documents, and undertaking a project without the necessary environmental approvals.
Prosecutors emphasized that the decision to charge 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.
They maintained that the determination was based solely on the evidence presented during investigations.
The accused persons are expected to appear in court to answer the charges. The Manzil Towers collapse sparked widespread concern about construction safety, enforcement of building regulations and the effectiveness of oversight systems within Nairobi’s construction sector, issues that continue to attract public attention months after the tragedy.
