Witnesses recount chaos as rescue teams comb rubble in South C building collapse

Witnesses have described scenes of panic and desperation after a 16-storey building under construction collapsed early Friday in the Shopping Centre area of South C, Nairobi County, as emergency teams mounted a race against time to rescue possible survivors.

Residents and traders in the area said they heard a loud bang before the structure came crashing down, sending clouds of dust across nearby roads and shops.

“The sound was like an explosion. Everything shook and people started screaming,” said one witness who was operating a kiosk nearby.

Others reported seeing security guards and night workers around the site shortly before the collapse, raising fears that people may have been trapped under the rubble.

Rescue operations are being led by a multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Red Cross Society, the National Disaster Management Unit, the National Police Service and county emergency responders.

Sniffer dogs and heavy machinery have been deployed as teams carefully clear debris while listening for signs of life.

The Kenya Red Cross said rescue efforts were ongoing, but authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming deaths or injuries by Friday afternoon.

The collapse has triggered renewed outrage, with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino blaming what he termed systemic failures and corruption in Nairobi City County.

“This tragedy is a painful reminder of the cost of weak oversight, poor enforcement and suspected corruption,” Mr Owino said in a public statement.

He alleged that the building had been approved for fewer floors than were eventually constructed, claiming unauthorised additions were allowed through corrupt dealings — allegations that have not been independently verified and to which the county government has not yet responded.

“Lives cannot be rebuilt. But systems can. Heads must roll,” Mr Owino said.

South C MCA Abass Khalif also demanded accountability, saying county officials involved in approving the building must be held responsible.

“The county officials and owners must be held to account for the tragedy,” Mr Khalif said.

As rescue operations continue, families and residents remain gathered at the scene, anxiously awaiting updates on possible victims, while authorities caution that detailed information will only be released after thorough assessments.