Fresh Safety Fears as a 16 Storey Building Under Construction Collapses in South C, Nairobi
A multi-storey building under construction collapsed on Friday, January 2, in the Shopping Centre area of Nairobi’s South C estate, triggering scenes of panic among residents and passers-by and prompting an emergency response from multiple agencies.
The structure came down suddenly, sending thick clouds of dust into the air and scattering debris across nearby streets. Witnesses said people fled the area in fear as the collapse unfolded, with business owners hurriedly closing shops amid concerns that more sections of the building could give way.
Emergency responders were swiftly dispatched to the scene, although officials had not confirmed by the time of publication whether anyone was trapped beneath the rubble or had sustained injuries.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that a coordinated response had been activated, involving several national and county agencies. In a statement, the humanitarian organisation said:
“A multi-agency response team was immediately deployed to manage the incident, conduct search and rescue operations, and secure the area. The site has been cordoned off as the National Disaster Management Unit, Nairobi City County, the National Police Service and the Kenya Red Cross continue search and rescue operations.”
Despite the scale of the incident, no official statement had been issued by the Nairobi County Government, the national government or the National Construction Authority (NCA) regarding the cause of the collapse or whether the building had met regulatory standards.
The collapse comes against the backdrop of growing concern over construction safety in Nairobi, particularly following recent warnings by the NCA. Less than a month ago, the authority cautioned the public—especially residents and road users in the Westlands area—to remain vigilant after visible cracks were discovered in a 13-storey building under construction along Peponi Road.
At the time, the NCA said the high-rise structure was at risk of collapse due to suspected structural failures. In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 17, the authority confirmed that a quality assurance team had been dispatched to the site to carry out compliance and safety checks.
In recent months, incidents involving buildings under construction have reportedly been on the rise, raising alarm over enforcement of safety regulations within the capital.
On July 31 last year, several workers were injured after a wall collapsed at a construction site along 147 Rhapta Road in Westlands. Reports indicated that the site, allegedly managed by a Chinese firm, had multiple safety violations at the time of the incident. Unconfirmed accounts further claimed that the construction site lacked a signboard and visible safety compliance measures, as required by law.
Earlier in February, a fatal incident was reported in Parklands, Nairobi, when a three-storey building under construction collapsed along Third Avenue. Witnesses said the structure gave way at around 5.20pm on February 11, shortly after construction work had ended for the day.
One person died in the incident after remaining behind to monitor CCTV footage. He was later found trapped in the debris and was pronounced dead after a friend returned to check on him.
As investigations into the South C collapse continue, the latest incident is expected to intensify scrutiny on construction practices in Nairobi, with renewed calls for stricter oversight and enforcement to prevent further loss of life.
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Fresh Safety Fears as a 16 Storey Building Under Construction Collapses in South C, Nairobi