Four people have died after a building collapsed during a demolition exercise at Blue Estate in Shauri Moyo, in Nairobi.
The incident occurred on Monday in the Blue Estate area of Shauri Moyo within Kamukunji Sub-County during an attempted demolition along the Nairobi River riparian corridor under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project.
Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said four people have so far been rescued from the rubble, one of whom sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
However, four fatalities have also been confirmed, while the number of people who may still be trapped under the debris remains unknown.
“The number of individuals who may still be trapped remains unknown. The victims were removing steel bars and other construction materials from the abandoned structure when it gave way,” Osumba said.
A multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Government Administrative Officers and the Kenya Red Cross was deployed to the scene, with search and rescue operations still underway.
Osumba added that they are continuing to monitor the situation as rescue teams work to clear the debris and search for any additional victims.
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration said the building came down following an attempted demolition earlier in the day.
The structure was among several buildings located along the riparian corridor of the Nairobi River that have been earmarked for removal under the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme being implemented by the Nairobi Rivers Commission.
Reports indicate that more individuals could still be trapped beneath the rubble, prompting an urgent search and rescue operation involving multiple government agencies.
Officials have urged members of the public to keep away from the affected area to allow rescue teams to operate without interference.
The incident comes amid an ongoing government effort to reclaim land along the Nairobi River and restore the waterway, which has for years been affected by pollution, illegal dumping and encroachment by informal and permanent structures.
The Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, launched in recent years, aims to clean up the river system and remove buildings constructed within riparian zones, which are protected environmental areas meant to safeguard waterways from pollution and flooding.
Authorities have in the past warned that structures built along riparian land are vulnerable to collapse and pose safety risks, particularly during demolition or heavy rains.
