The tragic collapse of a 14-story building in Nairobi’s South C area has seen a second body recovered from the rubble, bringing the confirmed death toll to two as rescue operations wind down.
The recovery on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, six days after the incident, intensifies calls for accountability amidst allegations of systemic failures and corruption in construction approvals.
Emergency teams, led by the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), have been working tirelessly around the clock, deploying specialized urban search and rescue techniques, sniffer dogs, and heavy machinery to comb through the debris.
Incident Commander Duncan Onyango Ochieng acknowledged the delicate and high-risk nature of the operation, emphasizing the commitment to locating and retrieving victims. The site remains extremely hazardous due to continuous movement of heavy machinery, increased debris, and exposed metallic materials, prompting authorities to urge the public and unequipped responders to stay away from active operation areas.
The government has described the incident as a “pancake-type collapse,” where floors fell onto each other, significantly complicating rescue efforts and trapping victims.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome directly blamed Nairobi City County for the tragedy, citing corruption and illegal approvals, specifically the authorization of four extra floors without mandatory structural integrity tests.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has warned that criminal accountability is inevitable, stating, “There are people who must carry the burden of responsibility and punishment.”
A multi-sectoral investigation involving the National Police Service, the National Construction Authority (NCA), and other agencies is underway to establish the exact cause and determine accountability.
The NCA had already indicated the building was non-compliant at the time of collapse, and Nairobi City County confirmed issuing three violation notices prior to the disaster.
CS Ruku has pledged to make findings public and prosecute anyone found culpable of negligence, signaling a tougher stance against recurrent building failures in urban areas.
