A multi-storey building under construction has collapsed in Nairobi, Kenya, raising fears that several people may be trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, reportedly about 18 storeys high, collapsed on Friday in the Eastleigh area of the Kenyan capital, sending a cloud of dust into the air and leaving rescue teams struggling to reach possible survivors.
According to reports, a woman was rescued from the scene, while emergency responders said they could hear another person believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
The rescue operation has been complicated by the proximity of surrounding buildings, making it difficult for emergency workers to access parts of the collapsed structure.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the immediate priority was to rescue anyone who might still be alive.
“Our concern is to save lives,” Sakaja said.
He also disclosed that the building did not have an occupation certificate, raising questions about compliance with construction regulations.
“This building has no occupation certificate…this has potentially cost lives,” he said.
The incident has renewed concerns about building safety and enforcement of construction standards in Kenya, where rapid urban development has been accompanied by repeated reports of structural failures.
Bibiye Mahmoud, president of the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya, said several people were feared trapped at the site and criticised the failure to ensure that construction work was supervised by qualified professionals.
“There are lots of people trapped here,” Mahmoud said.
“The contractors and the engineers are supposed to ensure that the works are followed by professionals. But most are not. This is why we are seeing these catastrophes… There is no accountability,” he added.
John Ogallo, vice-president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, said residents had reported signs of structural distress before the collapse.
“People here are saying distresses were observed, like cracks,” Ogallo said.
He warned that using inappropriate construction materials could put lives at risk, describing such a building as “a time bomb”.
A report by Kenya’s National Building Inspectorate found that 87 per cent of buildings audited nationwide last year either failed to meet required standards or lacked the necessary approvals.
The latest collapse has also drawn attention to the scale of building failures in Nairobi. Reports indicate that 86 building collapses were recorded in the city between 2009 and 2019, resulting in an estimated 200 deaths.
In September 2022, five people died when a six-storey building collapsed on the outskirts of Nairobi. Another apartment building collapse in April 2016 killed 49 people after heavy rain, flooding and landslides.
Local media also reported incidents of looting following Friday’s collapse, while police were seen using tear gas to disperse crowds at the scene.
Rescue efforts were continuing as authorities worked to establish the number of people affected and determine the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
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