DCI hunts Analo over fatal South C building collapse

Suspended City Hall chief officer Patrick Analo faces a fresh arrest over the South C building collapse probe. [File, Standard]

Even after being released on cash bail, Patrick Analo’s freedom may be short-lived as Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers continue to pursue him over the South C building collapse in January that left two people dead.

Analo, the suspended Chief Officer for Development and Urban Planning at City Hall, faces arrest after investigators probing the January 2, 2026, incident found him culpable. He is among 37 individuals whom Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has recommended for prosecution after reviewing the DCI investigation file.

He faces charges of abuse of office, contrary to Section 101(1) as read with Section 102A of the Penal Code, and neglect of official duty under Section 128 of the Penal Code. Detectives established that he violated approval, oversight and regulatory processes linked to the Manzil Towers building before its collapse.

On Thursday, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers raided his Syokimau home, recovering about Sh65 million in cash from his house and car boot. The anti-graft agency said the operation followed suspicions that Analo had received more than Sh170 million between the 2019/20 and 2025/26 financial years.

The raid formed part of investigations into allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery and possession of unexplained assets. The Commission alleged that the county urban planning chief had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known legitimate income, raising concerns over possible unjust enrichment.

On Friday, the court released Analo on a cash bail of Sh500,000 pending the conclusion of investigations into the graft case. His wife, Damaris, who was also arrested during the operation, was earlier released on a cash bail of Sh100,000.

On the same day he was released, DPP Ingonga approved his prosecution over the collapse of the 16-storey building under construction. “Following an independent and thorough analysis of the evidence contained in the inquiry file, 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,” he said.

Following the DPP’s recommendation, DCI officers are preparing to arrest Analo and other individuals linked to the case. “We are preparing and processing everything in relation to the pending arrests of those individuals as per the DPP’s advice,” said Nairobi Regional County Investigations Officer Danny Kandie.

Other officials facing abuse of office charges include Tom Achar, Director of Planning, Compliance and Enforcement. In February, the Ombudsman urged the DPP to initiate legal proceedings against Analo, Achar, Built Environment and Urban Planning CEC Stephen Mwangi, and Development Control Officer Simon Omondi over alleged malpractice in the planning department.

Investigations revealed that Manzil Towers had been flagged three times last year by enforcement officers for blatant violation of approved plans. The building was initially approved for 12 floors but was raised to 16 storeys before it collapsed, killing two people and injuring several others.

Governor Johnson Sakaja suspended Analo following the incident and halted all development approvals pending investigations. He said corruption has no place in public service and insisted that all officers are personally accountable for their actions.

Sakaja also proposed the inclusion of an EACC liaison officer within City Hall to strengthen oversight and improve accountability in county planning operations.