NAIROBI, Kenya — A massive multi-agency rescue operation is currently underway in Nairobi’s South C neighborhood following the catastrophic collapse of a 16-storey building under construction early Friday morning, January 2, 2026. The incident has left at least four people feared trapped beneath a mountain of concrete and twisted metal.
According to an official situation report from the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG), the structure was located at Plot No. 209/5909/10 at the intersection of Kiganjo and Muhoho Avenues.
Preliminary engineering assessments describe the failure as a “pancake collapse,” a devastating structural failure where all 16 floors collapsed vertically, stacking on top of one another.
Emergency response teams were dispatched to the site in the Southern Borough immediately following the collapse. The rescue mission is a joint effort involving the Nairobi Fire Brigade, the National Youth Service (NYS), and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Disaster Response Battalion.
To aid in the delicate process of moving heavy debris, an NYS excavator has been deployed alongside specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment.
A command center has been established on-site to synchronize the efforts of the various agencies as they move into the primary search phase.
“Two people are believed to be trapped within the debris,” the county confirmed in its statement, noting that all efforts are focused on locating potential survivors.
The impact of the collapse has triggered significant concerns regarding the stability of neighboring high-rises. An adjacent 14-storey building has been classified as high-risk, while a 16-storey structure nearby is also under close surveillance.
To monitor for further structural shifts, engineers have deployed advanced technical instruments, including theodolites and laser sensors. These tools are being used to track:
- Wall tilting and leaning columns.
- Widening of cracks and floor sagging.
- Horizontal and vertical alignment shifts.
- Ground subsidence caused by the shock of the collapse.
The NCCG revealed that the ill-fated project was not a stranger to regulatory scrutiny. The building had been flagged multiple times for various infractions throughout the previous year, yet construction apparently continued.
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“It is worth noting that the site has been subject to enforcement action by NCCG on varying dates in May, July and December 2025 over a number of infractions,” the report stated.
Investigations are now centering on whether these regulatory failures or specific structural defects directly caused the morning’s disaster.
Dabasso Wario, the Southern Borough Manager, emphasized that ensuring the stability of the entire block remains a top priority.
“The safety of the surrounding neighbourhood is our second highest priority,” Wario remarked, while the primary focus remains the search for the missing individuals.
