Deadly building collapse in Nairobi after demolition goes wrong

The incident occurred in the Shauri Moyo area, where the structure had been earmarked for removal under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project. Rescue teams, including the Kenyan army, were deployed to search for people feared trapped beneath the rubble.

Witnesses said the situation turned tragic when the building gave way unexpectedly as people were still inside.

Leon Haji, witness: “We were demolishing the building when the building collapsed on my friends. One is alive and his name is Buba and we are still looking for the other one whose name is Riseh. They are our friends and we are appealing to the government to help us retrieve our friends.”

Another eyewitness described how young men had entered the building moments before the collapse.

Jennifer Mumbua, witness: “Demolitions were underway, and some young men had entered the building to scavenge for scrap metal, when it suddenly collapsed while they were still inside.”

Officials say at least two people have been rescued so far, while the cause of the collapse remains unclear.

Building collapses are a recurring problem in Nairobi, often linked to poor construction standards and weak enforcement of regulations.

A past national audit found that more than half of buildings in the capital were unfit for habitation, raising ongoing concerns about urban safety.