President William Ruto has ordered an immediate, full-scale multi-agency response following the dramatic collapse of a multi-storey building in Nairobi, as fears grow that at least four people remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku confirmed on Friday that the President was briefed within minutes of the incident and issued firm instructions prioritizing rescue efforts and a no-nonsense investigation into what caused the disaster.
“The President was informed immediately, and he directed that multi-agency teams be deployed to carry out both rescue and investigative operations,” Ruku said.
According to authorities on the ground, four people are feared trapped — two watchmen who were on duty inside the building and two pedestrians who were travelling in a taxi near the site when the structure suddenly gave way. The taxi driver survived the ordeal and is currently admitted at Mbagathi Hospital. His account proved crucial in confirming that the two pedestrians were caught in the collapse.
As rescue teams work round the clock, anxious relatives of the missing watchmen have gathered at the scene, watching in tense silence as emergency responders carefully navigate unstable debris in a race against time.
Ruku said the President’s directive is unequivocal. “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.”
Preliminary findings have already raised serious red flags. Investigators say the building had been approved for only 12 floors but had been extended to the 14th floor at the time it collapsed — a breach that may have fatally compromised its structural integrity. Nairobi City County Government had reportedly issued a stop-work order in August last year, which appears to have been ignored.
CS Ruku named the building owners, contractor, supervising engineers and the architect who designed the plans as key persons of interest. “We have their names, contacts and registration numbers. The law will take its course against anyone found negligent,” he warned.
He appealed for calm among the public and urged onlookers to give rescue teams space to operate without interference, noting that the operation remains delicate and dangerous.
The President has further directed that rescue efforts continue without delay, stressing that accountability will follow once the emergency phase is concluded.
On site, a coordinated team of emergency responders, medical personnel and security officers continues the painstaking search, as Nairobi once again confronts hard questions about enforcement, corruption and safety in the construction sector.
