Alerts - Rescue Operations Underway after 16-Storey Building Collapses in South C

Emergency response teams have been deployed to Muhoho Avenue in Nairobi following the early morning collapse of a 16-storey building under construction. The structure, located near the South C Shopping Centre, came down at approximately 4:00 am on Friday. Preliminary reports indicate that at least four people, including two security guards and two pedestrians, are feared trapped under the debris. One injured person has been rescued and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The National Construction Authority (NCA) confirmed that the project was registered in November 2023. However, records from the Nairobi City County government reveal that the developer had only received approval for a 12-storey structure with 80 apartments. By the time of the incident, the building had reached 16 floors, exceeding its authorized height by four storeys. County officials stated the site had been cited for violations three times prior to the collapse.

Search and rescue efforts are being coordinated by a multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Red Cross, the National Disaster Management Unit, the Kenya Defence Forces Disaster Response Battalion, and the Nairobi Fire Brigade. Operations were briefly halted in the afternoon after an adjacent 14-storey building began shaking, prompting concerns over structural stability. Rescue workers have since resumed work using sniffer dogs and heavy machinery from the National Youth Service to clear the rubble.

The site has been cordoned off as engineers assess the integrity of neighboring properties. This incident has renewed scrutiny of construction oversight in the capital, with local representatives and regulatory bodies calling for investigations into how the unauthorized floors were added despite previous enforcement notices.