A residential building collapsed in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, leaving several people feared trapped, according to county officials and emergency responders.
Building collapses are not uncommon in Kenya, often caused by poor construction and ignored regulations. The eight-storey building in Kahawa West, a densely-populated neighborhood north of Nairobi, had already been condemned for demolition, officials said.
The Kenya Red Cross reported that several families were feared trapped under the debris. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja told AFP that one woman standing outside the building when it fell was injured.
Governor Sakaja stated that the woman is currently receiving treatment and is in stable condition. He added that casualties are expected to be minimal, and nearby residents will be evacuated as a precaution.
A crowd gathered at the scene, which is located between other high-rise buildings and a church. Catherine Wanjiku, a resident of the building since 2017, said she was fortunate to escape.
Wanjiku expressed her distress, saying, “I moved out yesterday. I am shaky and stressed. I have friends whose belongings have been destroyed.”
A Nairobi county document dated October 16 revealed that the building had been constructed and occupied without the required approvals. Authorities had ordered tenants to vacate within two weeks.
Kenya is experiencing a construction boom, but corruption has allowed contractors to ignore safety regulations. In September 2022, five people died when a six-storey building collapsed near Nairobi.
In April 2016, 49 people were killed when a six-floor building crumbled in Nairobi after floods and landslides. The building had been declared unsafe and was scheduled for demolition.
