At least six construction workers were injured—one critically—after a building under construction dramatically collapsed at the busy junction of Racecourse and Kirinyaga Road in Nairobi in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred at around 4:00am, according to police, sending shockwaves through the Central Business District and raising fresh concerns over safety standards at construction sites operating at night.
Central Police Commander Stephene Nyakombo confirmed that 18 workers were on site when the structure caved in.
“We have so far rescued and accounted for all of the workers. Out of the 18, six were injured while others were rescued with no injuries,” said Nyakombo.
Emergency response teams swiftly cordoned off the area as rescue operations got underway. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as first responders combed through debris to reach those trapped beneath the rubble. One of the injured workers sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital as medics battled to stabilise him.
Authorities have now launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, with particular focus on why construction was ongoing at night.
“We will seek answers from among the county officials,” Nyakombo added, signaling possible scrutiny of approvals, compliance and oversight by Nairobi County authorities.
The latest tragedy comes less than a month after another building under construction collapsed in South C, Nairobi, killing two people in an incident that remains under investigation.
The back-to-back structural failures are likely to intensify pressure on regulators to enforce stricter compliance with building codes, contractor accountability and site inspection protocols.
As investigations begin, Nairobi residents are once again left asking: Are rogue developers putting profit before safety?
More updates to follow as the story develops….
