NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi City County Government has urged residents living along riverbanks to relocate from high-risk areas following a fatal building collapse in Shauri Moyo that left four people dead.
The incident occurred in Kamukunji Sub-County within the Nairobi River riparian corridor, an area earmarked for clearance under the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme.
Emergency teams, including the Kenya Red Cross Society, the National Disaster Management Unit, and the Kenya Defence Forces Disaster Response Battalion, responded to the scene.
Four people were rescued from the rubble, while four others were confirmed dead.
Preliminary findings indicate the victims were salvaging construction materials from the abandoned structure when it collapsed.
Authorities have since cordoned off the site, warning that nearby buildings remain structurally unsafe.
The county’s Department of Urban Development and Planning said rising water levels following recent heavy rains had worsened conditions in riparian zones.
Residents have been advised to vacate voluntarily to avoid further casualties.
The incident raises renewed legal and policy questions around the enforcement of land-use regulations, particularly compliance with riparian reserve protections under environmental and urban planning laws.
Experts note that failure to enforce zoning regulations continues to expose vulnerable populations to disaster risks, especially during extreme weather events.
