- Residents were given little time to gather their belongings as police supervised the evacuation.
- County inspectors raised concerns over cracks and the building’s compliance with construction regulations.
- The latest incident has renewed scrutiny of Nairobi’s residential building safety and enforcement standards.
More than 90 families have been left homeless after Nairobi City County ordered the immediate evacuation and demolition of a 10-storey apartment building along Kabiria Road in Riruta Ward over serious structural safety concerns.
The occupants were forced to vacate the premises after county inspectors raised alarm over extensive cracks in the building, declaring it dangerous and unfit for occupation.
The abrupt directive caught several residents unprepared, with some reportedly leaving behind household items as they rushed to find alternative accommodation.
Some tenants said they received the evacuation notice while still asleep, leaving them with little time to gather their belongings before police officers supervised their departure.
The county formally classified the property as dangerous and ruinous on Saturday, October 31, 2026, marking the building in red as authorities moved to restrict access.
In its enforcement notice, the county cited breaches of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, and the Building Code, 2024, noting that the development had been constructed without the necessary planning approvals.
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Besides ordering residents to leave immediately, the authorities directed that the entire 10-level structure be demolished.
Police officers were stationed around the premises on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to prevent unauthorised entry as the building remained secured.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of residential buildings in Nairobi, particularly as the city continues to grapple with questions surrounding construction standards and regulatory enforcement.
The evacuation comes barely days after an 18-storey building collapsed in Eastleigh on October 23 along 9th Street, Yusuf Haji Highway, triggering a major search and rescue operation.
Emergency teams are still searching for at least 11 people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, with the National Disaster Management Unit reporting that several survivors had been rescued while one person had been confirmed dead.
By Lizzy Aluga
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