One dead, three rescued after building under construction collapses in Westlands

At least one construction worker died and three others were rescued following the partial collapse of a 22-storey building under construction in Nairobi’s Westlands area.

The incident occurred Wednesday March 18 night along School Lane, where the upper section of the high-rise caved in at around 8 pm, trapping four workers who were on site at the time.

According to Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud, two of the workers managed to escape unhurt, while one was rescued with injuries.

Another worker succumbed to injuries sustained in the collapse.

“Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the collapse. We have accounted for all workers at the scene,” Mohamud said, adding that authorities were also trying to determine why construction was ongoing at night.

Neighbours said they heard a bang before an alarm was raised. Reaching the site was a challenge for the responders then.

They had to walk upstairs, which are not secure.

Emergency response teams worked overnight to secure the site and carry out rescue operations. Officials from the National Construction Authority and the Nairobi County Government are part of the team investigating the incident.

The Westlands collapse came just hours after a separate tragedy in Kericho County, where another building under construction collapsed in Chebocho Sub-location, leaving one person dead and several others injured.

Kericho County Commissioner Jeremiah Gicheru confirmed that four workers were rescued and rushed to Kericho County Referral Hospital for treatment. The body of the deceased was also recovered and moved to the facility’s mortuary.

The incident prompted a multi-agency response involving the Kenya Red Cross, National Government Administrative Officers, and local rescue teams, who continued search efforts for those feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The twin incidents have renewed concerns over safety standards in Kenya’s construction sector. In recent years, multiple buildings under construction have collapsed across the country, often resulting in fatalities and injuries.

Authorities have repeatedly urged developers, contractors, and regulatory bodies to strictly adhere to building codes and safety regulations to protect workers and the public.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, amid growing scrutiny over possible negligence and enforcement gaps within the industry.