NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 30 tenants living at Park West Apartments in Westlands were evacuated on Wednesday after a residential building developed visible cracks linked to ongoing excavation works on a neighbouring property.
The incident triggered panic among residents as emergency responders moved swiftly to cordon off the area and supervise the evacuation of tenants and their belongings amid fears of a possible structural collapse.
Witnesses said the cracks emerged after extensive excavation works weakened the building’s structural support. Videos and images circulating online showed tenants rushing to remove household items while rescue personnel monitored the situation.
The owner of the affected building accused the adjacent developer of ignoring repeated warnings over unsafe construction practices and inadequate risk assessments.
According to the landlord, concerns had earlier been raised regarding heavy vibrations and deep excavation works near the apartment block, but no corrective action was allegedly taken.
“We have been having a very, very hard time for the past few weeks,” the landlord told journalists at the scene.
“This property has been standing here for more than ten years, but of late, there is a new developer who bought the property and began construction. What has happened is that they have deeply excavated, which has led to structural failure in this building,” she said.
She further revealed that the building’s perimeter wall had previously collapsed following the onset of heavy rains, while a balcony reportedly gave way on Tuesday night.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over construction safety standards in Nairobi, particularly in densely populated urban zones experiencing rapid real estate development. Structural experts have previously warned that deep excavation works conducted without proper reinforcement measures can compromise nearby buildings, especially during rainy seasons when soil stability is weakened.
Emergency teams remained at the site on Wednesday as authorities assessed the extent of the damage and monitored the stability of the structure.
The latest incident comes as Kenya continues to experience heavy rainfall that has triggered flooding and infrastructure damage across several counties.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the counties most affected by floods include Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Mombasa, Kwale, and Lamu, where cases of flooding, property destruction, displacement, and deaths have been reported.
The evacuation in Westlands adds to growing concerns over the intersection of urban construction, weak enforcement of building regulations, and extreme weather conditions that continue to expose residents to safety risks in major towns and cities.
