Business activities are gradually picking up in Nairobi’s South C estate after a multi-storey building collapsed, killing two people and causing widespread disruption.

Although several shops have resumed operations, traders and property owners say the incident severely affected their businesses, with some still counting losses days later.

 At a press briefing held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, during ongoing cleanup efforts, traders operating close to the collapsed building said they were hit hard by theft, vandalism and the closure of their businesses after roads were sealed off to facilitate rescue teams.

Among those affected is Saumir Shah, a business owner in the area, who estimates that he incurred losses of about Ksh7 million.

“I got a lot of damage in my shop. We have not calculated how much damage was done in my shop, but things were stolen from the shop, worth approximately Ksh7 million. We request that the government support us, and the building owner clears everything so that we continue with our business,” Shah said.

This comes even as leaders push for a swift probe and legal actions against the developers, while others have faulted the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) for laxity, a move that Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed, as concerns ensue over his push for prosecutorial powers.

Namish Shah, who also trades in the area, said it took three days after the incident before they could finally gain access to their shop.

“We found things had already been stolen, resulting in big damage and loss. It was a total mess, and we cannot continue with business as usual. It is a very big loss for us. We can’t even sleep at night because of this loss, we actually starting from zero, hoping to rise again,” he said.

Mitigating the damages

On his part, Rashid Ali Omar, Chairperson of the Nairobi South Business Community Association (NSBCA), recognised the significant losses incurred by traders and emphasised that the association is actively collaborating with key stakeholders to find solutions to minimise the impact, support affected businesses, and implement measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Omar further brushed off claims suggesting that a large number of buildings in South C may be risky.

“We categorically dismiss misleading and alarmist claims circulating in some quarters that 80 per cent of buildings in South C are unsafe. These figures are not supported by any verified data, professional assessments or official inspection reports,” he said.

 Omar urged property developers to fully comply with approved building regulations, while calling on engineers, architects, and contractors to maintain high professional and ethical standards to ensure safety, quality, and sustainable construction practices.

“Safety must never be compromised, and prevention must be the priority at every stage of development,” Omar said.