Nairobi County Reveals Cause Of Karen Building Collapse
The Nairobi County Government has acknowledged that the usage of poor materials caused the Nairobi Building in Karen to collapse, killing two people and injuring seven others.
In a statement issued on Saturday, January 10, County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning Patrick Mbogo stated that contractors at the site used timber gun tree supports instead of steel props for the double volume slab.
Furthermore, Mbogo stated that poor construction and inadequate formwork contributed to the building’s collapse.
“NCCG approved the architectural plans on 14th November 2024, while structural plans received approval on 27th November 2024,” Mbogo said.
Karen building collapse: 2 dead
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 10, 2026
Another building has collapsed in Nairobi, killing two people. The one-storey building was under construction in Karen. Seven construction workers were rushed to hospital. The incident comes a week after the South C building collapse… pic.twitter.com/cBG1VKr0NS
“Further investigations are ongoing and additional updates will be communicated as information becomes available,” he added.
The residential building, which was under construction, fell about 5 p.m. at Plot No. 12882/197, located on Ngong View Lane in Karen Ward, Lang’ata Sub-County, Southern Borough.
The fall sparked a multi-agency emergency response from the Nairobi County Government, the Red Cross, and others, who were able to rescue the injured and transport them to the hospital.
According to an original police report, the building had reached the first story when the floor fell in, killing two workmen on the job site.
The Nairobi County Government, in partnership with the National Construction Authority and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, has set up camp on the site to examine what caused the building’s collapse.
Second building collapse and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) within 10 first days of 2026. On 10 January, a partial building collapse occurred in Karen. While two persons perished in the disaster, six construction workers were rescued by the Nairobi Fire Brigade's USAR Team and pic.twitter.com/oDz23Fp1mt
— Wojtek Wilk PCPM (@WojtekWilkPCPM) January 10, 2026
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The incident came less than two weeks after another 12-storey building, which was also under construction, collapsed in Nairobi’s South C estate, leading to the death of two people.
The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), among other stakeholders, has linked these incidents to poor enforcement of building regulations, corruption, and the use of substandard construction materials.
According to figures cited by built environment professionals, inspections carried out by the National Building Inspectorate found that only about 15 per cent of buildings assessed were structurally safe.
About 85 per cent of the buildings inspected were either unsafe, required major structural improvements, or posed potential risks to occupants, according to the professionals.
Nairobi County Reveals Cause Of Karen Building Collapse
