Nairobi City County Government has issued a situation report following the collapse of a 14-storey building, earlier reported as a 16-storey building in South C, Nairobi, on January 2, 2026.
The incident occurred early in the morning at Plot No. 209/5909/10 along Kiganjo Muhoho Avenue Junction, South C Ward, Lang’ata Sub-County, within the Southern Borough.
According to preliminary assessments, the building suffered a pancake collapse. Two people are believed to be trapped in the debris.
“Preliminary assessments confirm that the incident involved a pancake collapse of a 14-floor building.
Two people are believed to be trapped within the debris,” read their statement in part.
Emergency response and rescue operations were immediately activated by Nairobi City County, with support from the National Youth Service, the Kenya Defence Forces Disaster Response Battalion, and the Nairobi Fire Brigade. A command centre has been established, and debris removal is ongoing alongside active search efforts.
The County further reported that an adjacent 14-storey building has been classified as high risk due to possible structural compromise caused by vibrations and impact from the collapse.
Specialised monitoring equipment, including theodolite and laser systems, has been deployed to continuously assess structural movement, cracks, tilting, and ground subsidence. An adjacent 16-storey building is also under close observation as a safety precaution.
Utilities on site include electricity and water, and all relevant agencies have been notified and have activated response measures. The Urban Search and Rescue team remains on site with specialised equipment.
Nairobi City County confirmed that the collapsed building had previously been subjected to enforcement actions in May, July, and December 2025 over multiple infractions, with investigations into the cause of the collapse now underway.
Babu Owino Issues Fresh Demands After Deadly Building Collapse in South C
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has issued fresh demands following the collapse of a 16-storey building under construction in South C, Nairobi County, which left families affected and emergency teams conducting rescue operations.
In his statement, Babu Owino condemned corruption and bribery linked to building approvals, approvals issued without full technical and legal compliance, and what he termed a culture of impunity involving county officials, developers, and construction professionals.
“This tragedy, coming just days into the new year, is a painful reminder of the cost of weak oversight, poor enforcement, and suspected corruption in Nairobi City County,” read his statement in part.
He further issued the following demands;
- A full, transparent, independent investigation into the collapse, including all approvals and inspections carried out at the county and national levels.
- Immediate suspension of approvals for undocumented or suspicious developments until national safety audits and compliance checks are completed.
- Accountability and prosecution of all those found to have enabled unsafe construction, whether public officials, private developers, or professionals in the built environment.
- Stronger enforcement mechanisms at Nairobi City County to ensure that every structure meets the highest safety standards, not just those with connections.
Lang’ata MP Demands a Halt to All Construction in South C and Nairobi
Lang’ata legislator Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has called for the immediate suspension of all construction projects in South C and Nairobi West following the collapse of a 16-storey building in the area early today.
Speaking to various media outlets, Jalang’o confirmed the immediate suspension of the projects, stating that they will remain suspended until safety audits are carried out following the collapse of the South C building.
The area has been secured by the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) and the National Police Service for technical assessments.
Confirmed: South C Building Collapse Kills Two Guards and Two Bolt Drivers with Passengers
Tragedy struck in Nairobi on January 1, 2026, when a 16‑storey residential apartment under construction collapsed in the South C estate.
The collapse claimed the lives of at least two security guards and two Bolt drivers, along with their passengers.
In a statement, the Member of County Assembly for Kileleshwa Ward, Robert Alai, said that the building, initially approved for 12 floors under Land Reference No. 209/5909/10, had an additional five floors added following an alleged KSh 25 million bribe involving Nairobi County Physical Planning officers.
Details of the Collapsed South C Building
“I am told that this building was built on LR. NO. 209/5909/10 was initially approved for 12 floors. 5 more floors were added after a bribe of Ksh 25 million was shared among County Officers within the Nairobi County Physical Planning department,” read his statement in part.
Additionally, he stated that authorities implicated include the Chief Officer of Planning, Director of Physical Planning, Assistant Directors, County Building Inspectors, structural engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, the contractor, property owner, and the Langata Sub-County Enforcement Unit Commander.
“Some of the crimes they can be charged with include manslaughter, criminal negligence, institutional corruption and even systemic abuse of office,” he stated.
Notably, Alai highlighted that officials Fredrick Ochanda, Patrick Analo, and Osman Khalif are allegedly enabling illegal constructions and billboards across Nairobi in exchange for bribes.
Several people are feared trapped, although official casualty figures remain unknown as of the latest reports.
According to reports seen by The Kenya Times, rescue efforts and assessments are ongoing at the site, while authorities work to determine the cause and the number of those affected.
In a statement issued by the Kenya Red Cross Society, a multi-agency response team is on site, managing the situation, coordinating search-and-rescue operations, and providing support to anyone affected.
“Early this morning, a building under construction collapsed in the Shopping Centre area of South C, Nairobi County. A multi-agency response team is on site managing the situation,” they said.
About South C-Nairobi
South C is a residential suburb in the southland area of Nairobi County, Kenya, located approximately 6 kilometres by road from Nairobi’s Central Business District along major transport routes including Mombasa Road.
It lies next to Wilson Airport, bordered by South B to the northeast, Langata Estate to the west, and Nairobi National Park to the south.
South C forms a ward within Langata Constituency and is part of Nairobi County’s administrative and political structure.
Development in the area includes a mix of single‑family houses, maisonettes, gated communities and increasingly high‑rise apartment buildings, driven by demand and urban growth.
South C hosts major institutions and landmarks, including the Kenya Red Cross Society headquarters, the Criminal Investigation Department Training School, National Environmental Management Authority and the Kenya National Bureau of Standards offices.
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