Scores Trapped As Eight-storey Building Collapses In Kahawa West

Scores of people were trapped beneath the debris when a residential structure in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, collapsed on Sunday.

Naija News understands that building collapses are relatively frequent in the nation, typically attributed to poor construction practices and the disregard of safety regulations.

According to AFP, officials from Nairobi County revealed that the eight-storey edifice in Kahawa West, a densely populated area to the north of the city, had previously been marked for demolition.

The Kenya Red Cross reported that several families are believed to be trapped under the wreckage.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was said to have informed journalists that one woman sustained injuries while standing outside the building at the time of the collapse, but he indicated that the number of casualties is expected to be low.

“She is currently undergoing treatment and is stable,” he said, adding that residents of adjacent buildings will be evacuated.

The collapse attracted many spectators to the location, which is situated between towering buildings and a church.

Catherine Wanjiku, a resident of the building since 2017, expressed to AFP her gratitude for having narrowly escaped with her life.

“I don’t feel good because I moved out yesterday. I am shaky; I am stressed. I have friends whose belongings have been destroyed in there,” the 33-year-old said.

A document from Nairobi County and, dated October 16, indicates that the building was erected and occupied without the necessary approvals.

Tenants are said to have been instructed to vacate the premises within a two-week period.

While the East African nation is experiencing a construction surge, corruption issues have enabled contractors to circumvent regulations or take shortcuts.

In September 2022, a six-storey building collapsed in a town on the outskirts of Nairobi, resulting in the deaths of five individuals.

Earlier, in April 2016, a six-floor apartment building in the northeast of the capital collapsed after several days of heavy rainfall led to flooding and landslides, claiming the lives of 49 people.

This building, constructed two years prior, was slated for demolition after being deemed structurally unsound.