A multi-storey building under construction in Nairobi's South C estate, along Muhoho Avenue, collapsed in the early hours of Friday, January 2, 2026, sparking urgent rescue operations and raising serious questions about construction safety and regulatory compliance in the city. The incident, which occurred around 4:30 AM, has left several people feared trapped beneath the rubble, prompting a multi-agency response.

Initial reports indicated at least two people, identified as security guards manning the building, were trapped and feared dead. As rescue efforts progressed, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku later confirmed that four individuals were suspected to be trapped. This included the two guards, whose families had been contacted, and two pedestrians who were reportedly in a taxi near the site. The taxi driver, who provided critical information, was admitted to Mbagathi hospital.

The collapsed structure was described as a 16-storey building under construction. However, CS Ruku, speaking during a visit to the site on January 2, 2026, revealed a critical discrepancy: the developers had approval to construct only a 12-storey building but had reportedly added two additional floors, bringing it to the fourteenth floor. This blatant disregard for approved plans, along with an ignored stop-work order issued by the Nairobi City County government in August 2025, was cited by Ruku as the likely cause of the structural failure. He accused those linked to the development of professional negligence and vowed firm action against anyone found criminally liable, including the owners, contractor, supervising firm, and architect involved.

Rescue operations, spearheaded by teams from the National Disaster Management Unit, Nairobi County, the National Police Service, the Kenya Defence Forces, and the Kenya Red Cross, were ongoing. Bulldozers and police sniffer dogs were deployed to aid in the search. The operation was temporarily halted for about an hour due to fears that a neighbouring building had also been impacted by the collapse. Assistant Inspector General of Police and Director of National Disaster Management Unit, Dr. Dancun Ochieng', confirmed the halt, noting that the adjacent building's critical support pillars were knocked out, leaving it in a