Building collapse kills four in Shauri Moyo, Nairobi
At least four people have died and four others rescued after a building collapsed on Monday in Blue Estate, Shauri Moyo, Nairobi, as authorities continued search and rescue operations for possible survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
The structure, located along the Nairobi River riparian corridor, was being partially demolished under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project when it suddenly gave way.
According to Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba, the victims were scavenging for construction materials at the time of the collapse.
“The victims were removing steel bars and other construction materials from the abandoned structure when it collapsed,” Osumba said, as he oversaw the emergency response.
Rescue teams drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), and the Kenya Red Cross were quickly deployed to the scene. Four people were successfully pulled from the debris, with one sustaining minor injuries and taken to hospital.
The Interior Ministry confirmed the death toll at four, noting that the building had been among several marked for removal under the ongoing river regeneration initiative.
However, the exact cause of the collapse during the demolition remains unclear.
The Kenya Red Cross said search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with authorities yet to determine the number of people who may still be trapped. Residents have been urged to keep away from the site to allow emergency teams to operate without interference.
“The Office of the County Commissioner continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as rescue and assessment operations progress,” Osumba added.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over building safety in Nairobi, where collapses have become increasingly common amid rapid urban growth and weak enforcement of construction regulations.
In 2015, following a series of fatal building failures that killed at least 15 people, a national audit revealed that 58 percent of buildings in the city were unfit for habitation.
Last year, a 16-storey building collapsed in South C, killing several people.
