Building Collapse in Westlands Leaves One Dead, Three Rescued

A building under construction in Nairobi’s Westlands area partially collapsed early Wednesday morning. At least one worker died, while three others were rescued, police confirmed.

The structure, which had reached 22 floors, gave way on its upper levels around 8 pm. Police reported that four workers were present at the site along School Lane near the Bank of Africa.

Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Red Cross, were quickly dispatched to the scene. Two workers escaped unharmed, while two remain trapped under the rubble as rescue efforts continue.

Authorities secured the area to prevent further injuries and facilitate search-and-rescue operations. The condition of the trapped workers has not yet been confirmed by emergency teams.

This incident comes amid a worrying rise in building collapses across Nairobi. Observers have expressed concerns over construction safety and enforcement of building standards nationwide.

Just days ago, on March 16, several people were trapped when a partially demolished building collapsed at Blue Estate in Shauri Moyo. Troops from the Kenya Defence Forces Disaster Response Battalion (DRB) assisted in the multi-agency rescue operation.

Related Incident in Kericho

Less than a day before the Westlands collapse, another building under construction collapsed in Kericho County. At least one person died, and several others were injured in Kaptebeswet area, Kipchebor Ward, prompting a county-led rescue operation.

Images from Kericho showed broken reinforcement bars, damaged support columns, and unstable wooden formwork. Authorities cited poor construction practices and weak oversight as contributing factors.

In Westlands, rescue teams continue to work through the morning using specialized urban search-and-rescue techniques. The incident has left a total of four fatalities recorded in recent building collapses, highlighting urgent safety enforcement needs.

Officials urge contractors to comply with safety standards to prevent further tragedies. More updates are expected as emergency teams continue locating and rescuing victims.