Six workers trapped in collapsed building near OTC, Nairobi, rescued

Six workers trapped in a building under construction near OTC along Kirinyaga Road in Nairobi County have been successfully rescued, the Kenya Red Cross has confirmed.

The Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC), Kenya Police Service, and Kenya Red Cross led the operation. All 18 workers who were at the site at the time have now been accounted for.

The structure collapsed around 4 am on February 11, 2026, during ongoing night construction. Rescuers said six workers sustained injuries, one of whom suffered serious trauma, while the remaining 12 were unharmed.

Central Police Commander Stephene Nyakombo said teams promptly responded to the scene, helping those trapped and securing the area.

“We have so far rescued and accounted for all of the workers. Out of the 18, six were injured while others were rescued with no injuries,” Nyakombo said.

He added that authorities are investigating why construction was taking place at night and will seek answers from county officials.

The site was cordoned off as rescue teams carried out their work, ensuring the safety of the workers and the public.

The latest incident adds to a string of building collapses in Nairobi in recent weeks.

On January 11, two workers died when a building under construction collapsed in Karen.

Seven others were rescued and taken to the hospital with multiple injuries.

Officials said the building, which had reached the first floor, collapsed while masons were laying a slab.

Authorities attributed the collapse to structural failure linked to poor workmanship and inadequate formwork.

Earlier in the month, on January 2, a 14-storey building reportedly suffered a “pancake collapse” in South C, Lang’ata Sub-county, leaving at least two people feared trapped.

Emergency response teams, including Nairobi City County, the National Youth Service, the Kenya Defence Forces Disaster Response Battalion, and the Nairobi Fire Brigade, were deployed to clear debris and search for survivors.

Heavy machinery, including an excavator from NYS, was used in the rescue operation.

These recent incidents highlight ongoing concerns over construction safety in Nairobi, with authorities emphasising the importance of proper building practices and regulatory compliance to prevent further tragedies.

Kenya’s construction professionals expressed concern over repeated building collapses in the country, saying lessons from past disasters have not been implemented.

In a joint statement, leaders of more than ten professional bodies, including engineers, architects, planners, quantity surveyors, project managers, surveyors, and valuers, called for a thorough review of the construction sector.

The statement, read by Shammah Kiteme, president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, said more than 200 buildings have collapsed in Kenya since 1996, and warned that a culture of impunity has made such failures a recurring national tragedy.

“The South C collapse was preventable and highlights deep-rooted systemic failures across planning, approvals, construction, supervision, and enforcement,” Kiteme said.

“Each life lost represents a collective failure that must weigh heavily on our conscience.”