Seven missing after multi-storey building collapses in Kenya's capital

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1. 1

   Seven missing after multi-storey building collapses in Kenya's capital

   BBC NewsPublished Oct 24, 2026Checked Oct 24, 2026

   “A search and rescue effort is under way to find seven people feared trapped under rubble after a building collapsed in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Dramatic footage shows the bottom floor of the block, thought to have been 16 or 18 storeys, giving way before the rest of the building crumples, sending a plume of dust into the surrounding streets. Dozens of builders had been working on the upper floors when it collapsed, but managed to emerge largely unscathed. Those missing were thought to have been in shops that had opened at the base of the building. The incident has raised fresh concerns about construction standards and regulations in Kenya. The block was under construction when it collapsed on Friday afternoon, with footage showing scaffolding still wrapped around the outside of the building. Officials said 11 shops had already opened on the bottom floors. Interior ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen said 66 of the 67 construction workers in the building at the time had been able to get out unharmed, while the other had suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. Images from the scene, in Nairobi's Eastleigh area, show the concrete floors of the building piled on top of one another, as rescue workers saw through metal to get to those believed to have been stuck underneath.”

2. 2

   FACTORS AFFECTING NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY ON REGULATING BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

   Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management (OTIDO & Omwenga)Published Jun 1, 2019Checked Oct 24, 2026

   “d that quality control, Resource planning, contractors competency and construction policies were the major issues that must be looked in to for the successful regulation of building construction works and that National Construction Authority has a mandate to oversee the regulation policies of building construction are followed in order to reduce cases of building failures and subsequent collapse in Kenya. The study therefore recommended that the NCA should come up a taskforce to oversee compliance of safety measures and on regular basis do building inspections. It further recommended that there should be adequate law enforcement by the authority with regards to regulation of buildings. Finally the study suggested that more research should be done to examine the influence of contractors’ competency on quality of building constructions. Key Words: Quality control, finance, Contractors Competency, Construction policies, construction projects CITATION: Otido, J., & Omwenga, J. Q. (2019). Factors affecting national construction authority on regulating building construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya . The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6 (2), 2354 – 2368.”

3. 3

   Structural Failures and Development Control in Kenya:

   AFRICA HABITAT REVIEW (Rukwaro)Published Dec 31, 2025Checked Oct 24, 2026

   “This paper examines the relationship between structural failures and development control in Kenya using a qualitative, desk-based analytical approach grounded in documentary and comparative review. It situates the Kenyan experience within broader global and regional urbanisation dynamics, reviews the contemporary statutory and institutional framework governing development control, and synthesises empirical and documentary evidence on the causes of building collapse. Drawing on comparative literature from Kenya, Nigeria, and wider urban studies, the paper identifies key drivers of failure, including weak regulatory enforcement, engagement of unqualified practitioners, rent-seeking and corruption, technical design and construction deficiencies, poor maintenance, and inadequate regulatory review. The analysis develops a conceptual framework that links regulatory architecture, institutional capacity, professional ethics, and developer behaviour to building performance outcomes. It advances policy-oriented recommendations to improve safety, accountability, and resilience in Kenya’s construction sector.”

4. 4

   Occupational Accident Patterns and Prevention Measures in Construction Sites in Nairobi County Kenya

   American Journal of Civil Engineering (Kemei)Published Jan 1, 2016Checked Oct 24, 2026

   “The study determined that most construction site injuries were as a result of workers falling from heights (37%), being hit by falling objects (28%) and accidents occurring as a result of workers operating equipment (20%). Relative Importance (R. I) index of construction hazards were calculated for 24 factors contributing to construction site accidents. The top five hazards identified were: (1) reluctance to provide resources for safety (0.820); (2) lack of staff training (0.814); (3) lack of a safety policy and enforcement of safety regulations (0.795); (4) poor safety consciousness among workers (0.766); and (5) lack of strict operational procedures (0.756) in construction sites. The study concluded that in order to improve safety in the construction industry, each company should have a health and safety policy which is to be implemented in each contract. Furthermore, construction companies need to provide workers with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as safety belts, retaining belts, safety ropes, and safety harness, and catch nets to prevent workers from being hit by falling materials and to secure them against falling from heights.”

5. 5

   Causes of building failures in Africa: A case study on collapsing structures in Kenya

   IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (Kioko)Published Jan 1, 2014Checked Oct 24, 2026

   “This article elaborates the various causes of building failure in Africa, particularly Kenya.In addition to various causes that lead to collapse of buildings, Lack of African code of practice can also be a factor that should be put in consideration.Most codes of practice used in African countries are foreign codes either from Britain or Indian codes yet we use local materials for construction.”