Two workers remain trapped inside a collapsed building in Westlands, as rescue teams continue operations following the incident on Wednesday night.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, four workers were initially trapped when the structure reported to have been under construction gave way. Two individuals were successfully rescued and escaped without injuries, while efforts to reach the remaining two are ongoing.
“Rescue efforts are ongoing, with the status of those trapped yet to be confirmed,” the organisation said in a statement.
Emergency Response Underway
Emergency responders, including disaster management teams and volunteers, have been deployed to the site, working through the debris in a race against time. Authorities have yet to confirm the condition of the trapped workers.
The cause of the collapse has not been immediately established, though such incidents have frequently raised concerns about construction standards and regulatory enforcement in rapidly developing urban areas.
The Westlands incident adds to a growing list of recent building collapses across Kenya.
In Kericho County, one person was killed and three others rescued after a three-storey building collapsed in Chesanga village, Kipchebor Ward. County Commissioner Jeremiah Mwai Gicheru confirmed that multi-agency teams responded swiftly to the scene.
Rescue operations in Kericho were coordinated by County Executive Committee Member for Public Service Jonathan Korir, who led efforts involving emergency personnel and local volunteers.
Earlier this week, another tragedy struck Shauri Moyo, where four people died following the collapse of a building at Blue Estate during a demolition exercise along the Nairobi River riparian corridor.
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration stated that the structure was among those marked for removal under the Nairobi River Regeneration Project, implemented by the Nairobi Rivers Commission. Reports indicated that several individuals had been trapped during the incident, with four rescued one sustaining minor injuries.
Safety Concerns Intensify
The series of collapses has intensified scrutiny on building safety standards, enforcement of construction regulations, and the management of demolition activities, particularly in high-density urban areas.
Authorities are expected to launch investigations into the Westlands collapse as rescue operations continue.
