Under construction structure fails in Nairobi’s South C District, people feared trapped

A multi storey building under construction in Nairobi’s South C area collapsed in the early hours of January 2, 2026, leaving people feared trapped beneath the debris and prompting a large scale emergency response. Rescue operations continued throughout the day as teams searched for survivors and stabilized the site.

The National Construction Authority confirmed that the collapsed structure was non compliant at the time of failure. The building had been registered in November 2023 as a proposed mixed use development and was located near South C Shopping Centre along Muhono Avenue. Nairobi City County further confirmed that enforcement teams had cited the project for violations on three separate occasions during 2025.

Preliminary assessments by county engineers indicate a pancake type structural collapse, suggesting progressive failure of load bearing elements. Emergency response teams from the county government, the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Youth Service and the Nairobi Fire Brigade were deployed to manage rescue operations and debris removal.

Authorities confirmed that the developer also acted as the contractor and that the firm was registered under a limited construction category. Engineers were simultaneously monitoring adjacent buildings for potential structural distress.

The National Construction Authority has committed to publishing a detailed technical investigation report outlining the causes of failure and accountability measures. The incident has renewed scrutiny of construction oversight, enforcement effectiveness and regulatory compliance within Nairobi’s rapidly expanding high rise development sector.

Video footage can be seen in the following video (from 0:10 to 0:20 timeframe).