Nairobi City County has confirmed the collapse of a 14-storey building along Kiganjo Muhoho Avenue Junction in South C, Lang’ata Sub-County, on January 2, 2026, with two people believed trapped under the debris.
Emergency and rescue teams, including the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Disaster Response Battalion, the National Youth Service (NYS), and the Nairobi Fire Brigade, were immediately deployed to the scene.
According to the County’s Office of the Chief Officer for Boroughs and Sub-County Administration Dabasso Wario, preliminary assessments indicate that the incident involved a “pancake collapse” of the 14-floor building. A command centre has been established to coordinate operations, with debris removal proceeding alongside the primary search phase.
“An adjacent 14-floor building has been identified as a high-risk structure, with potential structural compromise resulting from vibrations and impact caused by the collapse,” the County said, noting that specialized theodolite and laser equipment have been deployed to monitor wall tilting, leaning columns, crack widening, floor sagging, and other alignment shifts in the neighboring structure.
National Disaster Management Operation officer William Sifuna said the rescue teams are working intensively to locate potential survivors.
“We are suspecting there are some lives, and as you can see, on the battleground, all the agencies on the ground, machinery is on the ground. We are trying very hard to clear the roads that are blocked by the building, and at the moment, we are yet to arrive to the suspected lives,” he said, adding that rescue efforts are ongoing under challenging conditions due to damage to the adjacent building’s pillars.
The Nairobi City County highlighted that the collapsed building had previously been subjected to enforcement actions over varying infractions in May, July, and December 2025.
Utilities on site, including electricity and water, have been managed carefully to support rescue operations, while all relevant agencies have been notified and activated their respective response actions.
The County emphasized that the safety of the surrounding neighborhood remains a top priority, particularly with an adjacent 16-floor building being closely monitored for potential structural compromise.
“Further updates will be issued as the situation evolves,” the County said, urging the public to remain calm and allow rescue teams to work without interference.
Emergency teams continue to work around the clock with heavy machinery and specialized equipment to locate and rescue anyone trapped under the debris.
The City County confirmed that investigations into the cause of the collapse are underway, with the goal of establishing accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future.
