At least two people have lost their lives while seven others sustained injuries after a building under construction collapsed along Ngong Road in Nairobi’s Karen area.
The incident occurred opposite Karen Community Church, sending panic among workers and residents as part of the structure gave way.
Kenya Red Cross confirmed the tragedy, stating that three people were successfully evacuated while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Rescue teams remained at the site amid fears that more workers could still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Preliminary reports indicate that the collapse happened when workers began laying the slab foundation for the building’s entrance.
Witnesses said the first floor suddenly caved in, giving those on site little time to react. Emergency response teams, including firefighters and medical personnel, were swiftly deployed as efforts to account for all workers continued.
The Karen incident comes barely days after another deadly building collapse in South C, where a 12-storey structure gave way, killing two people and raising fresh questions about construction safety in Nairobi.
That tragedy reignited debate within the building and construction sector over compliance, oversight, and accountability.
Industry experts and professional bodies have since demanded thorough and speedy investigations into both incidents.
They argue that lax enforcement of regulations and approval of questionable structural alterations have contributed to the rising number of construction-related disasters in the city.
In the South C case, attention has particularly focused on officials who allegedly approved additional floors on the building, a move experts say breached professional and safety standards.
Adding to the concern, construction unions have warned that Nairobi faces a looming safety crisis. According to industry estimates, more than 85 per cent of buildings within the city are considered unsafe for occupation, largely due to poor workmanship, substandard materials, and weak regulatory oversight.
As rescue operations continue in Karen, pressure is mounting on authorities to tighten inspections, enforce building codes, and hold those responsible to account, before more lives are lost to preventable construction failures.
