By Joshua Otieno | March 16, 2026
At least three people have been confirmed dead while several others are feared trapped after a five-storey building collapsed in Shauri Moyo estate in Nairobi on Monday.
The incident occurred at Blue Estate within Kamukunji Sub-County during what authorities described as an ongoing demolition exercise. The building was reportedly among structures earmarked for removal under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project targeting developments built on riparian land.
By Monday evening, multi-agency rescue teams comprising the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Kenya Red Cross Society and the National Police Service had managed to retrieve three bodies from the rubble.
A spokesperson from the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that some survivors had also been rescued during the ongoing operation.
“We have managed to rescue three people alive so far. One has been rushed to the hospital with minor injuries, while the others are being assessed at the scene,” the spokesperson said.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang moments before the building collapsed, sending a thick cloud of dust across the densely populated neighbourhood.
Residents quickly rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts using hand tools before heavy machinery from Nairobi City County Government and the military arrived to support the operation.
David Wanyonyi, the Nairobi North County Commissioner, confirmed that search and rescue operations would continue throughout the night.
“Our priority is to account for every individual who was on-site during the demolition. We urge the public to steer clear of the cordoned area to allow rescue machines space to work,” he said.
The collapse has raised fresh concerns about safety procedures during the demolition of condemned structures along the city’s waterways as the government continues with efforts to reclaim riparian land under the Nairobi River restoration programme.
