A building under construction near the Odeon/OTC junction along Kirinyaga Road in Nairobi’s Central Business District collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving six workers seriously injured and prompting an urgent rescue operation by emergency teams. The unexpected structural failure has intensified scrutiny over construction safety and regulatory compliance in the capital.
Police and rescue personnel were alerted shortly after 4:00 a.m. on February 11, 2026, when the partially built structure gave way while workers were installing the first-floor slab. At least 18 laborers were on site at the time, and authorities confirmed that all were accounted for after an exhaustive search of the debris.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as crews worked overnight, only to be engulfed by collapsing concrete and steel supports. Emergency responders swiftly pulled the six injured from the rubble and transported them to nearby medical facilities, where they remain under treatment. One of the victims is reported to have sustained critical injuries, according to police officials at the scene.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with authorities yet to disclose whether structural failure, substandard materials, or lapses in oversight contributed to the disaster. The site has been cordoned off to prevent further risk to passersby and to preserve evidence for ongoing inquiries by police and construction safety regulators.
This incident adds to a growing list of deadly and injurious building failures in Nairobi this year, including collapses in South C and Karen that have already raised alarm among safety watchdogs and professional bodies. Critics argue that repeated construction accidents are symptomatic of systemic weaknesses in regulatory enforcement and permit approvals, leading to calls for urgent reforms to protect workers and the public.
City authorities and national regulators are expected to hold a joint briefing later today to outline preliminary findings and next steps in the investigation. Meanwhile, affected families and colleagues of the injured workers are demanding transparency and accountability as fears intensify over construction standards in Kenya’s rapidly growing capital.
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