16-Storey Building Collapses in Nairobi, Raising Fears of Trapped People

A 16-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s densely populated Eastleigh area on Friday, reducing the structure to rubble and raising fears that people may be trapped beneath the debris.

The number of casualties had not been confirmed. Local media reported that looting occurred immediately after the collapse, while police used tear gas to disperse crowds of onlookers.

Safety concerns amid construction growth

The incident occurred as Nairobi experiences a rapid construction boom, with high-rise buildings appearing across the city. Figures from Nairobi’s statistics bureau show that the number of buildings completed annually increased from 20,025 in 2022 to 25,090 last year.

The expansion has also drawn attention to concerns over construction safety. Corruption is reported to allow some contractors to cut corners and bypass regulations, increasing worries about the standard of buildings being erected.

Kenyan authorities found that 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide either failed to meet required standards or lacked the necessary approvals.

Previous building collapses

The Nairobi collapse adds to a record of deadly building failures in and around the capital. In September 2022, five people were killed when a six-storey building collapsed in a town on the outskirts of Nairobi.

In April 2016, 49 people died after a six-floor apartment building collapsed in the northeast of Nairobi. Heavy rain, floods and landslides were reported in connection with that incident.

Details about the developer, contractor, owner or structural cause of Friday’s collapse were not available.