NAIROBI, Kenya — An emergency response is underway in Kibera’s Highrise area after a building collapsed on Wednesday, with fears that several people may be trapped beneath the rubble.
The Kenya Red Cross said in an update that rescue teams were deployed to the scene and had begun search-and-rescue operations amid concerns of multiple casualties. Emergency responders are working to locate and rescue individuals believed to be buried under the debris.
Witnesses reported a sudden collapse, triggering panic in the densely populated settlement, as residents and first responders scrambled to assist those affected. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of people trapped or injured, as efforts continue.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over construction safety, coming just weeks after the National Construction Authority (NCA) released findings on two separate building collapses in Nairobi and Kericho counties.
In its March 20 statement, the NCA detailed a partial structural failure at a high-rise construction site in Westlands, Nairobi. According to preliminary findings, the collapse occurred during slab casting on the 22nd floor, which gave way onto the 21st floor.
“The incident involved a partial structural failure, with the probable cause being formwork failure,” the authority said, noting that one person died while another sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.
The project, undertaken by Canaan Developers Limited for Canaan Towers, had been duly registered with the regulator, raising fresh questions about enforcement and on-site compliance with safety standards.
In a separate incident in the Kaptebeswet area of Belgut, Kericho County, another building collapsed shortly after concrete placement on the second floor. The NCA attributed the failure to possible inadequate propping and insufficient structural reinforcement.
That incident resulted in one fatality and left three others injured, all of whom were hospitalized. The construction was also registered and handled by licensed entities, according to the authority.
The recurrence of such incidents has intensified scrutiny on regulatory oversight and adherence to building codes in Kenya’s rapidly expanding urban centres. Under Kenya’s construction and planning framework, developers and contractors are required to comply with structural safety standards and regular inspections as mandated by law.
The ongoing rescue in Kibera is likely to renew calls for stricter enforcement, accountability for developers, and enhanced site supervision to prevent avoidable tragedies.
Rescue operations were still ongoing by Wednesday afternoon, with authorities expected to provide further updates on casualties and the cause of the collapse as investigations begin.
