NAIROBI, Kenya- At least two people were killed and seven others injured on Saturday, after a building under construction collapsed in the Karen area of Nairobi City.
This is the second prominent building collapse in the city in just over a week.
The structure, located opposite Karen Community Church along Ngong Road, partially gave way as construction workers were on site, triggering a massive search and rescue operation involving the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), Kenya Red Cross and County emergency teams.
According to officials from the NDMU, the collapse was reported shortly before 4:00 pm, prompting the immediate deployment of rescue crews.
The injured were rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, with at least two reported to be in critical condition.
Assistant Inspector‑General and NDMU Director Duncan Ochieng’ said rescue teams were still determining whether all affected individuals had been safely accounted for, noting that debris clearance and expert assessments of site stability remain ongoing.
“As you can see from the rubble, we cannot completely ascertain that the area has been thoroughly searched,” he said.
Update: Six casualties have been evacuated to hospital.Clearing of the rubble is ongoing and all trapped persons have been accounted for.Response teams remain on site as operations continue.
Tragic Repeat After South C Collapse
The incident in Karen comes days after another building under construction collapsed in the South C estate in Nairobi, killing at least two people and prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building standards and regulatory oversight.
Early investigations into the Karen collapse by Nairobi City County Government suggest the tragedy may have resulted from structural failure linked to poor workmanship and non‑compliance with construction standards, including the use of inadequate support materials during slab work.
A county official noted that although architectural and structural plans had been approved late last year, the collapse appears to stem from deviations or weaknesses in execution rather than flaws in the approval process itself.
Investigators are also examining the indemnity form signed by the developer and project professionals, which places legal responsibility for safety and structural integrity squarely on the developer and registered professionals engaged in the project.
Karen building collapse: 2 deadAnother building has collapsed in Nairobi, killing two people. The one-storey building was under construction in Karen. Seven construction workers were rushed to hospital. The incident comes a week after the South C building collapse
–Public Safety and Regulatory Concerns–
Repeated building collapses in Nairobi, including smaller incidents highlighted in recent industry safety assessments, have intensified scrutiny of the city’s construction and regulatory environment.
A 2025 built environment report found that many structures across major counties fail safety standards, often due to non‑compliance, weak enforcement and shoddy building practices.
Industry professionals and safety advocates have stressed the need for stronger inspection frameworks, accountability for developers and engineers, and adherence to building codes to prevent further loss of life and property.
