A 16-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s South C estate along Muhoho Avenue, triggering a large-scale rescue operation amid fears that several people may be trapped beneath the rubble.
Initial reports indicated that no casualties had been confirmed, but as rescue efforts progressed, authorities said at least four people were feared trapped inside the collapsed structure.
Two of them have been identified as guards who were manning the building at the time, while witnesses reported that two passersby may also have been caught in the collapse.
Families of the trapped guards said the men were able to make phone calls shortly after the incident, but later went silent.
“Our brothers who were guarding the building were receiving calls telling us they were trapped. But at around 10.30, they stopped responding. We fear they are dead,” a family member said.
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Confirming the incident, the Kenya Red Cross Society said a multi-agency emergency response was immediately deployed.
“A building under construction collapsed in the Shopping Centre area of South C, Nairobi County. A multi-agency response team is on site managing the situation,” the organisation said in a statement.
The rescue operation is being led by the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) in collaboration with the Disaster Response Battalion of the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross, Nairobi County Government and other agencies, with the National Youth Service expected to join.
The site remains cordoned off, as nearby residents were advised to temporarily evacuate to allow for safety assessments and the stabilisation of the area.
Assistant Inspector General of Police and NDMU Director Dr Dancun Ochieng, who is heading the operation, said authorities were still working to establish the number of people who may have been inside the building at the time.
“We cannot authoritatively say so, but we have information that at least two people have been contacted inside there. We are working to have data, but by the end of the day, once the evacuation is done, then we can authoritatively talk about how many people were inside there,” he said.
“Given that this is also a public road, we don’t know how many people were on this road at that time,” he added, noting that the rescue operation is expected to be completed by Saturday.
The collapse sparked panic among residents in the densely populated South C neighbourhood and renewed concerns over construction safety in Nairobi, where rapid high-rise development has often raised questions about regulatory oversight.
On social media, Kenyans expressed anger and frustration, with one Instagram user, @babakaunty, commenting, “shida ni tukisema ni nani tutaanza kuletewa shida, wanajenga haraka ju walitoa hongo,” while @_ybn.harr.y wrote, “engineer aligraduate na chatgpt.”
Residents told The Standard that the building collapsed just weeks after a notice had allegedly been issued, casting further doubt on the integrity of the construction.
Area legislator Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, questioned how the project was authorised.
“Buildings are going on, and some are questionable, but they’ll tell you they know who is who,” he said.
“I have written 43 letters requesting about buildings we feel suspicious about. But there has been no response from relevant authorities,” he added, noting that the collapsed structure was among those his office had flagged.
The area now remains sealed off, with technical teams assessing risks to adjacent buildings.
Photos by Bernard Orwongo, Standard