Building collapses in OTC area

A building under construction collapsed early Wednesday morning in Nairobi’s busy OTC area, injuring at least six people, according to preliminary reports.

The structure, situated near the Kirinyaga Road junction, gave way at dawn as the city was just beginning to stir.

Emergency responders, police officers, and Kenya Red Cross personnel rushed to the scene shortly after the incident. The Red Cross later confirmed that the situation had been contained and that all six individuals who were trapped in the debris had been accounted for.

Dawn Collapse Limits Casualties

The early morning timing of the collapse is believed to have prevented a far greater tragedy. At the time of the incident, only a small number of people were present on-site — mainly night security personnel and a few workers who had reported for the early shift.

Rescue teams moved swiftly to extract survivors from the rubble of twisted metal and concrete. The injured workers were stabilised at the scene before being transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Questions Over Accountability

Although investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, the incident has reignited debate over construction safety standards in Kenya.

The disaster comes barely three weeks after a public forum, or baraza, was convened to address increasing cases of building failures across the country. During that meeting, safety oversight was described as a “hot potato of responsibility,” highlighting confusion over who should be held accountable when structures fail.

Responsibility in such cases is often contested among engineers, architects, surveyors, contractors, and site managers. The National Construction Authority (NCA) has also faced criticism in the past over enforcement of building codes and regulatory oversight.

A Pattern of Building Failures

The OTC collapse is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Nairobi over the past decade.

In 2016, a residential building in Huruma estate collapsed after heavy rains, killing more than 50 people. In 2022, additional buildings under construction in areas such as Ruaka and Kasarani also collapsed, resulting in multiple fatalities.

The NCA has previously warned that thousands of buildings in Nairobi are structurally unsafe and earmarked for demolition. However, enforcement has often stalled due to legal disputes and administrative challenges.

Investigations Underway

The site near Kirinyaga Road remains cordoned off as investigators assess what led to the structural failure. The incident is expected to intensify scrutiny of developers accused of cutting corners and bypassing regulations to reduce costs.

As of Wednesday, Nairobi County had not issued a formal statement indicating whether the building had previously been flagged for demolition.

For traders and residents in the bustling OTC district, the collapse served as a stark reminder of the risks associated with rapid urban development and the urgent need for stricter compliance with safety standards.