Four rescued after building collapse in Highrise, Kibera

Four people have been rescued after a building under construction collapsed in the Highrise area of Kibera, Nairobi, on Tuesday.

The injured were taken to Mbagathi Hospital as emergency teams continued search and rescue operations at the scene amid fears that more people could be trapped beneath the rubble.

“Four individuals have been rescued and taken to Mbagathi Hospital. Response teams remain on site,” the Kenya Red Cross said in an update.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, rescue teams have been deployed to the scene and are currently conducting search and rescue operations amid fears that several people may be trapped beneath the rubble.

The Kenya Red Cross reaffirmed that its teams were swiftly deployed and were working alongside other responders to access the debris.

Authorities said the exact number of people who may have been inside the structure at the time of the collapse remains unclear.

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

On March 16, a building collapsed in the Blue Estate area of Shauri Moyo in Nairobi.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, the structure gave way adjacent to buildings that were being demolished on riparian land.

Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.

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.

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.