Two construction workers were killed when a wall collapsed at a construction site in Nairobi’s Parklands area. The wall, which was part of a basement structure along Suswa Road, caved in while the workers were on site.
Authorities believe the collapse may have been influenced by the heavy rains that had fallen in the area the previous day, on Saturday. However, other officials pointed to poor construction practices, noting the wall had been built dangerously close to the land’s boundary, putting neighboring properties at risk.
Patrick Analo, Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Urban Planning and Development, said the site had already been condemned before the incident occurred. “The developer is required to present himself to authorities for further interrogation,” Analo stated. He also revealed that several workers had earlier been arrested at the same location for carrying out excavation without approved architectural building plans.
Video footage from the scene showed fellow workers desperately trying to rescue the trapped victims. During the rescue efforts, another section of the wall gave way, forcing everyone to flee for safety. Emergency responders later recovered the bodies and transported them to the mortuary.
Officials from the police, Nairobi County, and the National Construction Authority visited the site on Sunday and Monday. Investigations are ongoing, with calls for stricter enforcement to prevent further incidents in the construction sector.