Four people have been confirmed dead following a building collapse on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Nairobi’s Blue Estate within Shauri Moyo, Kamukunji Sub-County.
Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said the tragedy occurred during an attempted demolition along the Nairobi River riparian corridor under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project.
He said the victims were removing steel bars and other construction materials from the abandoned structure when it suddenly collapsed.
Osumba added that four people have so far been rescued, one of whom sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.
However, the number of people still trapped under the rubble remains unknown.
A multi-agency team has since been deployed to the area to continue search and rescue operations.
“Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, NGAOs, and the Kenya Red Cross Society have been deployed and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” said the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
Meanwhile, Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has sent his condolences to the families of the deceased while calling for action following the tragedy.
“I strongly condemn the arbitrary demolitions along the riparian land on the riverbanks of Kamukunji, as well as the callous and reckless manner in which today’s operation in Blue Estate was handled, with utter disregard for the safety and lives of those affected,” he said.
Yusuf also called on authorities to immediately stop all further demolitions and launch a thorough investigation into the “causes of this terrible tragedy.”