At least six people suffered injuries after a building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s central business district.
The collapse occurred at the Racecourse and Kirinyaga Road junction early Wednesday, February 11.
Police officers and rescue teams responded quickly after receiving distress calls from people near the scene.
Authorities confirmed the incident happened near the OTC area in downtown Nairobi.
Rescue teams pulled twelve people from the rubble during the early morning emergency operation.
Emergency crews searched the debris and cleared access paths to reach trapped workers.
The Kenya Red Cross joined police and county responders at the collapse site within hours.
Teams provided first aid and arranged immediate hospital transfers for the injured workers.
Officials confirmed that every worker present at the construction site had been accounted for.
Medical teams transported injured victims to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment and observation.
What Rescuers Confirmed at the Scene
Witnesses reported loud cracking sounds moments before the structure gave way and collapsed.
Nearby traders and night workers alerted authorities and pointed rescuers toward the exact location.
First responders secured the perimeter to prevent crowds from interfering with rescue operations.
Officers redirected traffic and pedestrians away from the dangerous zone around the debris.
Rescue teams used manual tools and light equipment to avoid further collapse risks.
Commanders avoided heavy machinery during early stages to protect anyone possibly trapped underneath.
Authorities have not yet established the exact cause behind the structural failure.
Investigators have started a formal probe to determine responsibility and technical triggers.
Engineers and county inspectors plan to review approved building plans and site compliance records.
Investigators will also examine materials used and supervision records for the project.
Pattern of Repeated Building Failures
Building collapses continue to occur frequently across Nairobi due to high housing demand pressure.
Some developers ignore regulations and bypass mandatory safety and construction code requirements.
Regulators often cite illegal design changes and weak supervision during key construction stages.
Experts also blame rushed timelines and profit pressure for unsafe structural decisions.
This latest collapse marks the third major building failure reported since the year started.
Each recent incident involved a structure that was still under construction.
On January 2, a sixteen-storey building under construction collapsed in the South C area.
That incident caused at least two deaths and left several other victims trapped under rubble.
Government and volunteer rescue teams conducted multi-day search operations at the South C site.
Crews removed debris piece by piece while searching for survivors and victims.
On January 10, another residential building under construction collapsed in the Karen area.
That collapse resulted in two deaths and left seven other people with injuries.
Findings From Recent Investigations
Preliminary investigations linked the Karen collapse to structural weakness and poor workmanship practices.
Inspectors also identified substandard construction materials used in key load-bearing sections.
The Nairobi City County Government and National Construction Authority conducted the joint technical assessment.
Their early reports pointed to direct violations of approved building standards and procedures.
Construction experts warn that many active sites operate without qualified supervision or certified engineers.
They say some contractors alter structural designs without approval from regulators.
Professional bodies have raised repeated alarms about widespread safety risks across Nairobi buildings.
These groups include the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and the Architectural Association of Kenya.
Engineers estimate that between 80 and 85 percent of Nairobi buildings present safety concerns.
They base these estimates on audits, inspections, and recurring structural defect reports.
In 2015, eight buildings collapsed and caused fifteen deaths across different parts of the country.
Those disasters triggered a nationwide safety audit order from then President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The national audit aimed to verify structural compliance and occupancy safety across registered buildings.
Inspectors evaluated design approvals, material quality, and construction supervision records.
The National Construction Authority later reported that 58 percent of Nairobi buildings were unfit for habitation.
That finding exposed deep enforcement gaps and widespread non-compliance within the construction sector.
