Kisumu building collapse leave 8 injured amid renewed safety concerns
Six of the victims were treated at the scene, while two others, who were in critical condition, were evacuated and referred to hospital for further medical attention.
Eight people were injured after a building collapsed in Maomboleo, Kisumu County, in an incident that has once again raised concerns over the safety of buildings and enforcement of construction regulations in Kenya.
The Kenya Red Cross said its emergency teams, working alongside a multi-agency response team, responded to the collapse and attended to all eight injured people.
Six of the victims were treated at the scene, while two others, who were in critical condition, were evacuated and referred to hospital for further medical attention.
“All residents have been successfully evacuated,” the Kenya Red Cross said in an update this morning.
The agency had earlier alerted the public that its response teams were heading to the scene after receiving reports of the collapse.
“Reports of a building collapse in Maomboleo, Kisumu County. Response teams are en route to the scene. More to follow,” the Red Cross said in its initial alert.
The circumstances surrounding the collapse were not immediately established, with authorities yet to give details on what caused the structure to cave in or provide an update on the condition of the two victims taken to hospital.
The multi-agency response team remained at the scene as authorities assessed the affected structure and surrounding buildings and worked to ensure that all residents had been safely evacuated.
The Kisumu incident comes against the backdrop of a series of building collapses and structural failures across the country, prompting renewed scrutiny of construction standards, building approvals, inspections and enforcement by national and county authorities.
In Nairobi, at least four people were killed in May after a building collapsed in Blue Estate, Shauri Moyo, while four others were rescued from the rubble.
The structure, located along the Nairobi River riparian corridor, was reportedly being partially demolished under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project when it suddenly gave way.
Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said some of the victims were scavenging for construction materials when the abandoned structure collapsed.
“The victims were removing steel bars and other construction materials from the abandoned structure when it collapsed,” Osumba said while overseeing the emergency response.
Rescue teams from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Government Administrative Officers and the Kenya Red Cross were deployed to the scene.
Four people were pulled from the debris, with one sustaining minor injuries and being taken to hospital.
The Interior Ministry later confirmed that four people had died, saying the building was among structures marked for removal under the ongoing river regeneration initiative.
However, the exact circumstances surrounding the collapse during the demolition remained unclear, while authorities continued assessing whether other people could have been trapped beneath the rubble.
Residents were urged to keep away from the site to allow emergency personnel to conduct rescue and assessment operations 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 said.
The latest collapse has also revived concerns over the enforcement of construction regulations in urban centres, particularly Nairobi, where rapid development has continued to put pressure on regulatory and inspection systems.
In 2015, following a series of fatal building collapses that claimed at least 15 lives, a national audit found that 58 per cent of buildings in Nairobi were unfit for habitation.
The safety concerns have persisted.
In January this year, a 16-storey building collapsed in South C, Nairobi, killing two people and damaging an adjacent 15-storey structure, Bridge Port Apartments.
The South C Residents Association subsequently raised concerns over the safety of the neighbouring building and alleged that it had flouted approved building plans.
The residents have also demanded the release of a multi-agency inquiry report into the collapse.
Among their demands to Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome is the immediate publication of the findings of a multi-agency team comprising the National Construction Authority (NCA), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), National Building Inspectorate, Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) and Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).
The residents want the Government to disclose the findings relating to the collapse of Plot 68/1306 and explain what action has been taken following the investigations.
Meanwhile, the collapse of Manzil Towers C in South C has moved into a new legal phase, with the High Court granting the Director of Public Prosecutions 14 days to respond to a challenge by three Nairobi City County officials seeking to stop their prosecution over the disaster.
Justice Dr Nabil Orina issued the directions during a mention of the case on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after the court was informed that the applicants had complied with earlier directions requiring them to file and serve their written submissions.
The DPP was directed to file and serve its submissions within 14 days. The applicants will then have seven days from the date they are served with the DPP’s response to file supplementary submissions, should they consider them necessary.
“The applicants have already filed and served their submissions,” the court was told during the mention.
Justice Orina also directed that an application seeking consolidation of the proceedings be considered when the matter comes up again.
The case will return to court on October 14, 2026, when the parties are expected to confirm compliance with the filing directions. The court is also expected to issue further directions and set a date for judgment.
The proceedings stem from a decision by the DCI to pursue criminal charges against three Nairobi City County officials in connection with the collapse of Manzil Towers C.
In July, the High Court issued temporary orders barring the arrest, charging and prosecution of Patrick Analo Akivaga, David Kibui Kigathi and another applicant pending determination of their challenge to the decision to institute criminal proceedings against them.
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the officials are challenging the intended prosecution and asking the High Court to quash the decision to charge them.
The proposed charges relate to allegations of abuse of office under Sections 101(1) and 102A of the Penal Code.
The case is now awaiting the DPP’s response before the court determines the next stage of the proceedings.
The October 14 mention will therefore be closely watched as the court establishes whether all parties have complied with its filing directions and gives further directions towards determination of the case.
