A multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday, leaving an unknown number of people feared trapped beneath the rubble as rescue teams worked to reach survivors.
The building, estimated to be about 18 storeys high, collapsed in Eastleigh, a densely populated area of the capital. Videos shared online showed the structure crashing down and sending thick clouds of dust into the air.
Rescue operations were complicated by the building’s location between other high-rise structures. Police confirmed that a woman had been pulled from the debris, while rescuers reported hearing another person calling for help.
Bibiye Mahmoud, president of the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya, said many people were believed to be trapped. She blamed poor professional supervision and a lack of accountability for recurring building disasters.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said rescuing those trapped was the immediate priority. He also disclosed that the building did not have an occupation certificate, a document confirming that a structure has met the requirements for safe occupation.
John Ogallo, vice-president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, said there were reports that cracks and other signs of structural weakness had been noticed before the collapse. He warned that the use of unsuitable building materials could create serious safety risks.
The incident has renewed concerns over construction standards in Nairobi, where rapid urban growth has fuelled the development of high-rise buildings. Kenya’s National Building Inspectorate reported that 87 per cent of buildings audited nationwide last year either failed to meet required standards or lacked the necessary approvals.
Data from the country’s statistics bureau showed that the number of buildings completed annually in Nairobi rose from 20,025 in 2022 to 25,090 last year.
Corruption and the bypassing of building regulations have been cited as factors contributing to unsafe construction practices.
Nairobi has experienced several deadly building collapses over the years. In September 2022, five people died when a six-storey building collapsed in a town outside the capital. In April 2016, 49 people were killed when an apartment building in northeastern Nairobi collapsed after days of heavy rain triggered flooding and landslides.
A report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis recorded 86 building collapses in Nairobi between 2009 and 2019, resulting in an estimated 200 deaths.
Meanwhile, police used tear gas to disperse crowds gathered near the latest collapse after local media reported looting at the scene.
The incident has intensified calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations, improved construction supervision and greater accountability for developers and contractors.
