Photos: Six workers rescued after building wall collapse near OTC on Kirinyaga Road

A wall gave way early Wednesday at a building site under construction along Kirinyaga Road near OTC in Nairobi's Central Business District.

The collapse happened at the foundation level, according to preliminary information from the scene. It took place in the pre-dawn hours, around the time when some workers were on shift in this densely packed part of the city.

The Kenya Red Cross put out an initial alert on X saying a building had collapsed near OTC along Kirinyaga Road and that response teams were on their way. Nairobi stays alert to such reports given how tightly packed the area is with traffic, traders and matatus.

Multiple agencies moved in quickly. The Nairobi County Disaster Management Sector, Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, National Disaster Operations Centre, National Police Service and Kenya Red Cross teams carried out the rescue.

By mid-morning the Red Cross confirmed the outcome. Six workers who had been trapped were pulled out alive. "Six workers who had been trapped in the collapsed building have been successfully rescued by the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, National Disaster Operations Centre, NPS and Kenya Red Cross," the organisation stated. "All individuals have now been accounted for."

No deaths occurred. Some reports mentioned injuries among the workers, though exact numbers varied slightly in initial accounts from different outlets. The focus stayed on the fact that everyone involved was located and brought out.

Photos taken at the site show scattered debris from the fallen wall, with yellow police tape marking off the area to keep people back. One image captures broken concrete and reinforcement bars jutting out amid the rubble on the ground.

The location sits close to the OTC landmark, where Kirinyaga Road meets heavy pedestrian and vehicle movement near Globe Roundabout and Racecourse Road. Construction continues steadily in this zone as developers add commercial buildings to meet demand in the CBD.

Authorities have started looking into what led to the wall failure. Early indications point to an issue at the foundation stage, but no official cause has been released yet. Such inquiries usually cover design approvals, site supervision, material quality and ground conditions.

The coordinated response from county and national teams allowed the situation to be handled without escalation. The busy hour of the collapse, still early enough that crowds had not fully built up, likely helped limit any wider risk.

The Kenya Red Cross and other responders remained at the scene to monitor and provide any further support. Police cordoned the area as standard procedure while investigations proceed.

Incidents like this draw attention to safety practices on active construction sites in Nairobi, particularly during early structural phases where temporary supports and excavation work carry higher risks.