Second body recovered from collapsed building as rescue ends

 

Rescuers after recovering the second body from the collapsed building in South C, Nairobi, on January 7, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The second body of an unidentified male adult has been recovered from the debris of the collapsed multi-storey building in South C, Nairobi, marking an end to a six-day rescue and recovery operation.

The body was retrieved at 3.30pm on Wednesday, after rescuers cleared tonnes of rubble from the site along Muhoho Avenue, where the building collapsed in the early hours of January 2. Authorities said this brings the total number of fatalities to two.

The first body was recovered on Sunday and was laid to rest on Tuesday at Lang’ata Public Cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.

Speaking at the scene, Lands CS Alice Wahome announced that the operation had officially come to an end. “They were security guards for the site. Based on information gathered on who may have been inside the building at the time, we are now confident that there is no other person trapped in the debris. Unfortunately, we lost two people. One other person escaped, and we thank God for that chance,” Wahome said.

She said investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing and that those found culpable would face prosecution, saying the collapse was a clear failure of professionalism. “A building that is professionally put up, built with the right materials, is not supposed to collapse and kill people. There are people who will have to carry responsibility and bear the burden of punishment,” Wahome said.

She disclosed that preliminary observations pointed to serious construction and regulatory failures, including the addition of four extra floors to the building. “I am also aware that the extra four floors are part of the bigger problem. Looking at the rubble, you can make your own conclusions that this was a poor job,” she said.

She faulted the approval process, saying county authorities had sanctioned additional floors on a structure that was already weak, without involving the National Physical Planning office.

 

Lands CS Alice Wahome addresses the media at the site of the collapsed building in South C , Nairobi, on January  7, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

“That is not how work should be done. Approval of four extra floors on a building being completed is unacceptable. This is a joint responsibility of county governments and the national government, and we will expose what went wrong,” Wahome said.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the key objectives of the search and rescue phase had been achieved and the operation would now transition to investigation and site management.

“With this recovery, the two suspected victims have now been accounted for. Relevant authorities are undertaking identification processes with dignity and professionalism,” he said.

He announced that roads which had been closed to facilitate rescue operations were being cleared and would be reopened as soon as possible to restore normal movement, while the immediate incident site would remain cordoned off.

“The government will commence the process of scaling down operations forthwith, with most resources being demobilised in an orderly manner,” Ruku said.