A 16-storey building under construction in Nairobi’s South C estate collapsed in the early hours of Friday, January 2, 2026, sending shockwaves through the city just days into the new year.
The incident, which occurred along Muhoho Road near the Shopping Centre area, has prompted an urgent multi-agency rescue operation amid growing concerns over building safety standards and enforcement in the capital.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the collapse in a statement, noting that a team including the National Disaster Management Unit, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, and Nairobi County emergency services was on site conducting search-and-rescue efforts.
The area has been cordoned off to secure the scene and allow for technical assessments.Reports indicate that at least two people believed to be security guards on duty are feared trapped or dead beneath the rubble, with families expressing despair as communication with them ceased hours after the collapse.
Casualties remain unconfirmed as operations continue, but preliminary accounts suggest the structure came down suddenly, creating clouds of dust and panic among residents and passersby.
The disaster has reignited longstanding debates about oversight in Nairobi’s booming construction sector, with allegations surfacing that the building was originally approved for fewer floors before unauthorised additions were made.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino issued a strong statement expressing shock and sadness over the incident.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the collapse of the 16-storey building under construction in South C, Nairobi County, an incident that has left Nairobians in anguish and emergency teams scrambling for survivors,” he said, noting the involvement of responders from the Kenya Red Cross, National Disaster Management Unit, and National Police Service.
Owino described the tragedy as “a painful reminder of the cost of weak oversight, poor enforcement, and suspected corruption in Nairobi City County.”
He pointed to reports claiming the structure was initially approved for 12 floors, with four additional floors allegedly added after bribes amounting to KSh 25 million were paid to the Governor and other county officials.
“These allegations point to institutional corruption, where life-safety standards are sacrificed for profit and political convenience,” the MP stated.
He condemned any bribery undermining safety, approvals without proper compliance, and a culture of impunity. Owino called for:A full, transparent, independent investigation into the collapse, covering all approvals and inspections.
Immediate suspension of approvals for suspicious developments pending national safety audits.
Accountability and prosecution of those involved, including officials, developers, and professionals.
Stronger enforcement to ensure all structures meet high safety standards.
“Lives cannot be rebuilt. But systems can,” Owino concluded. “Let this disaster spur the reforms Nairobi has long needed, so that we never again mourn deaths that could have been prevented.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by other leaders, including Langata MP Phelix Odiwour (Jalang’o), who demanded a halt to constructions in South C and nearby areas for audits, and South C Ward MCA Abass Khalif, who called for accountability from planning officials.
This collapse adds to a series of building failures in Nairobi in recent years, often linked to substandard materials, rushed developments, and lax regulation amid the city’s rapid urban growth.
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