‘Chaos In Kahawa West’ Scores Of Residents Trapped As Eight-Storey Building Collapses (See Photos)

‘Chaos In Kahawa West’ Scores Of Residents Trapped As Eight-Storey Building Collapses (See Photos)

A residential building in Kahawa West, a densely populated area of Nairobi, Kenya, collapsed on Sunday, trapping numerous individuals beneath the debris.…..CONTINUE READING 

Building collapses are sadly common in Kenya, often linked to poor construction practices and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.

According to officials from Nairobi County, the eight-storey structure had previously been marked for demolition. The Kenya Red Cross reported that several families may still be trapped under the rubble.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja informed reporters that one woman sustained injuries while outside the building during the collapse, but he noted that the overall casualty count is expected to be low. “She is currently receiving treatment and is stable,” he stated, adding that residents of nearby buildings would be evacuated.

The incident drew many spectators to the scene, located among towering buildings and a church. Catherine Wanjiku, who has lived in the building since 2017, expressed her relief at narrowly escaping with her life. “I don’t feel good because I moved out yesterday. I am shaky; I am stressed. I have friends whose belongings have been destroyed in there,” the 33-year-old shared.

A document from Nairobi County dated October 16 indicated that the building had been constructed and occupied without the required approvals. Tenants had been instructed to vacate the premises within a two-week notice.

Despite an ongoing construction boom in East Africa, corruption issues have allowed contractors to bypass regulations or take shortcuts.

In September 2022, a six-storey building collapse in a nearby town resulted in five fatalities. Earlier, in April 2016, a six-floor apartment building in northeastern Nairobi fell after heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides, claiming 49 lives. That building had also been slated for demolition due to structural concerns.