Many feared trapped under collapsed building in Nairobi

A multi-storey building in Nairobi's Eastleigh district crumbled mid-construction on Friday, leaving many underground and raising concerns about the safety of ongoing construction projects. Witnesses captured the dramatic crash, which sent up a massive plume of dust as the 18-storey building crumpled into a heap of rubble. Rescuers rushed to the scene, but struggled to gain access to the wreckage amid other high-rise structures.

One woman was pulled from the debris by police, and another's voice was reportedly heard. Bibiye Mahmoud, president of Kenya's Institution of Engineering Technology, told AFP that rescue efforts were hampered by the dense concentration of buildings and lack of coordination. Mahmoud warned that the contractors and engineers responsible for the construction had not adhered to professional standards.

Kenya's National Building Inspectorate report revealed that 87% of buildings audited last year did not meet safety standards or lacked necessary approvals. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized that the building in question had no occupation certificate, which is the government's formal approval for a structure to be occupied.

John Ogallo, vice-president of Kenya's Institution of Engineers, noted visible warning signs of structural issues, such as cracks, before the collapse. He cautioned that using substandard materials could have disastrous consequences. Eastleigh, known for its bustling markets and Somali community, has seen a surge in high-rise construction in recent years.

The rapid urbanization has led to a sharp increase in the number of buildings completed annually in Nairobi, from 20,025 in 2022 to 25,090 last year. However, this construction boom has been plagued by corruption and a culture of cutting corners, leading to numerous building collapses. Between 2009 and 2019, there were 86 such incidents in the city, claiming an estimated 200 lives.

In September 2022, a six-storey building fell in a town outside Nairobi, killing five people. In April 2016, a six-floor apartment block collapsed in the northeast part of the capital during heavy rains, resulting in 49 deaths.