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A building under construction along Ngong Road collapsed on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the area and renewing concerns over construction safety in the capital. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that six people were evacuated to hospital following the incident.
Emergency responders were quickly deployed to the scene, where search and rescue operations began immediately. According to the Red Cross, rubble clearance is still ongoing, but all individuals who were feared trapped have now been accounted for. Response teams remain on site to ensure the area is secure as operations continue.
The Ngong Road collapse comes barely days after a similar incident in South C, Nairobi, where a building under construction at the South C Shopping Centre collapsed on January 2. In that incident, thick clouds of dust and falling debris forced nearby residents and business owners to flee for safety.
Multiple agencies were mobilised to handle the rescue and safety operations, including the National Disaster Management Unit, Nairobi City County authorities, the National Police Service, and the Kenya Red Cross.
A security guard stationed at the South C site recounted hearing a loud bang before realising the structure had given way. Together with others at the scene, he helped rescue an injured man from the debris. Nairobi police commander George Seda stated that teams were conducting thorough searches for potential casualties while also assessing the stability of neighbouring buildings, some of which were still under construction.
The back-to-back collapses have intensified public concern over the safety of construction projects in Kenya. Questions are increasingly being raised about compliance with building standards, quality of materials, and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.
As investigations continue, authorities are urging the public and developers to exercise caution around construction sites, warning that lapses in safety could lead to further tragedies.
