The National Construction Authority has issued a detailed statement on a building collapse that occurred early Wednesday morning along Kirinyaga Road in Nairobi. The incident happened during foundation works when a retaining wall failed. Six people sustained injuries, but there were no fatalities.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) has provided fresh insights into a building collapse along Kirinyaga Road in Nairobi that took place early on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. According to the NCA's statement, the incident occurred during foundation works when a temporary retaining wall used as shoring in a prior excavation failed. This wall, meant to hold back soil, collapsed, causing part of the excavation to cave in.
Retaining walls serve as temporary supports to keep soil or earth in place during digging operations. Shoring specifically prevents surrounding soil from collapsing while foundations are being constructed.
The NCA confirmed that the affected structure was part of a proposed commercial development intended to reach up to 10 floors. "The project is a proposed commercial development that was under construction at the time of the incident which took place during foundation works at the site," the NCA statement read.
Additionally, the authority verified that the project was officially registered with the government and had satisfied all necessary requirements, including registration with a contractor, architect, and quantity surveyor. Although no fatalities were reported from the collapse, the NCA noted that six individuals sustained injuries and are receiving medical treatment.
The collapse site has been cordoned off, and investigations into the cause of the disaster are ongoing.
This event follows a series of recent building collapses, including a 16-storey structure under construction in South C that crumbled, resulting in at least two deaths. On January 10, a residential building under construction in Karen collapsed, killing two people and injuring seven others. Investigators found the site lacked required signage and linked the failure to improper formwork, highlighting issues with supervision and adherence to structural standards.
Around the same time, a five-storey apartment block on Naivasha Road in Uthiru caved in, with several occupants, including children, initially reported missing during rescue efforts. In Ruaka, a separate five-storey building under construction fell onto a neighboring residential house, triggering a multi-agency search and rescue operation.
In response to these incidents, the National Building Code 2024 has been enforced to replace outdated standards, mandating stricter compliance with modern structural and safety requirements. Nairobi City County has merged key departments handling planning and infrastructure oversight to address coordination gaps, while the NCA has increased inspections at critical construction phases. Harsher penalties, expedited investigations, and a nationwide audit of high-risk buildings have been introduced to enhance accountability and avert future tragedies.
