Scores Feared Dead as Building Collapses in Kibera Highrise During Affordable Housing Clearance

Rescue teams moved quickly into the debris Wednesday afternoon after a building gave way in the Highrise section of Kibera. The collapse happened while a clearance exercise linked to an affordable housing project was under way.

Local residents told reporters they heard a loud noise just before the structure failed. Within moments, concrete and masonry came down, leaving sections of the building buried under rubble.

No official count of those trapped has been released. Officials on site have said only that the number remains unconfirmed and that they fear scores could have died.

Kenya Red Cross personnel, wearing red helmets and vests marked “Disaster Response Team,” were among the first responders. They worked alongside other search-and-rescue units, picking through broken walls and twisted metal. Dust hung in the air as teams lifted pieces of debris by hand in the tight space.

The Highrise neighbourhood sits inside one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements. Narrow paths and closely packed structures make any large-scale operation difficult. Clearance work in such areas is meant to prepare land for new housing units under the national affordable housing programme.

Witnesses described the moment as sudden. One resident said the noise was sharp and unmistakable, followed immediately by the sound of falling masonry. People living nearby had gathered at a safe distance by the time rescue crews arrived.

Operations continued into the evening. Teams used basic tools and careful manual lifting to avoid further shifts in the unstable pile. No heavy machinery appeared to be in use at the immediate collapse site, likely because of the confined layout.

The Kenya Red Cross has not issued a detailed statement beyond confirming its teams are on the ground.

Kibera’s informal buildings have long presented challenges for redevelopment. Many were constructed without formal permits or engineering oversight, which complicates any attempt to clear space safely. This incident is the latest reminder of those difficulties, though investigators have not yet commented on what caused the specific failure.

As night fell, portable lights were brought in. Rescue workers continued methodical sweeps, listening for any signs of life beneath the wreckage. Local leaders have asked residents to stay clear of the cordoned area while the operation proceeds.

No timeline has been given for when the search might conclude or when more information on casualties could be expected. The focus remains on locating anyone still trapped and providing immediate medical care to survivors.

The affordable housing project that prompted the clearance exercise forms part of wider government plans to improve living conditions in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Land preparation work like this is routine but rarely draws attention unless something goes wrong. Wednesday’s events have now placed this particular site under scrutiny.