One injured as 16‑Storey building collapses in South C, Nairobi

At least one person was injured when a 16-storey building under construction collapsed along Muhoho Avenue, South C, Nairobi, early on January 2.

Police said they suspect at least one person may have died in the incident.

The building was under construction at the time, but there were no workers on site.

Officers who responded to the scene said the security guards on duty had not been located, and efforts to account for them were ongoing.

Nairobi police commander George Seda said multi-agency teams were deployed to the site to search for possible casualties.

“One man, who we believe was a pedestrian, was rescued and rushed to the hospital. He was walking nearby when the building collapsed. We suspect there may be other people trapped inside,” he said.

The collapsed building stood next to other structures that are also under construction.

The cause of the collapse remains unclear.

However, this is not the first building to fall while under construction in Nairobi.

Dozens of similar incidents in the past have left many dead and injured.

Investigations into previous cases continue amid complaints that owners were allowed to rebuild without facing consequences.

A security guard in the area told police he heard a loud bang and saw dust, only to realise the building had collapsed.

He and others rushed to the scene and assisted in rescuing the injured man.

The incident has highlighted concerns over compliance with building regulations.

Nairobi residents have long complained about the rapid proliferation of unregulated structures, with some cases ending up in court.