NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has issued a high-priority directive for a multi-agency emergency response following the catastrophic collapse of a high-rise building in Nairobi’s South C that was still under construction.
On Friday, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku confirmed that the President is being briefed in real-time and has mandated an exhaustive search and rescue operation alongside a criminal investigation.
Current estimates suggest that at least two individuals remain trapped beneath the rubble. These are believed to be two security guards who were stationed inside the structure when the 16-storey building caved in.
The rescue efforts were bolstered by testimony from the taxi driver, who managed to survive the impact and is currently receiving treatment at Mbagathi Hospital. His account helped authorities confirm the likely location of the missing pedestrians.
“The President was informed immediately, and he directed that multi-agency teams be deployed to carry out both rescue and investigative operations,” CS Ruku stated.
Fatal deviations and ignored orders
Preliminary forensic reports indicate a severe breach of construction regulations. While the building had been officially approved for 12 storeys, developers had reportedly proceeded to add a 16th floor at the time of the collapse. This unauthorized vertical expansion is being investigated as a primary cause of structural failure.
Furthermore, it has emerged that the Nairobi City County Government had issued a formal stop order in August of last year to halt construction. This order appears to have been flagrantly ignored by the site developers.
CS Ruku emphasized that the government has already identified the key individuals responsible for the project, including the property owners, the contractor, the supervising engineers, and the architect.
“The President’s instructions are clear: first, ensure the safety and rescue of those trapped; second, investigate thoroughly what caused this collapse and ensure that all those responsible are held accountable,” Ruku added.
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The Cabinet Secretary assured the public that once the emergency rescue phase concludes, the legal phase will begin in earnest.
“We have their names, contacts, and registration numbers. The law will take its course against anyone found negligent,” he warned.
As heavy machinery continues to sift through the unstable debris, the government has called for calm, urging onlookers to stay clear of the site to allow the KDF Disaster Response Battalion and the Nairobi Fire Brigade to operate without hindrance.
