Tenants of a 10-storey apartment block along Kabiria Road in Riruta Satellite, Dagoretti South, were forced to flee their homes after Nairobi City County officials issued an evacuation notice following reports of a loud bang and visible structural cracks in the building.
The incident sparked panic among residents after a loud bang was heard on the seventh floor, prompting fears that the building could be structurally compromised and at risk of collapse.
The alarm was raised after tenants discovered a huge crack on one of the walls, prompting them to contact officers at Riruta Police Station and Nairobi City County officials.
Police officers and county enforcement personnel responded to the scene and inspected the premises. Following their assessment of the visible cracks and the reported incident, they ordered all occupants to immediately vacate the building pending further investigations and structural assessments.
The abrupt evacuation left tenants scrambling to salvage their belongings, with some forced to leave household items behind as they hurriedly sought alternative accommodation.
In an enforcement notice issued under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act No. 13 of 2019 and Nairobi City County by-laws, the county described the property as a dangerous and ruinous permanent structure.
The notice identifies the property as Nairobi Block 66/7880, situated along Kabiria Road in Riruta Ward, Dagoretti South Sub-County.
It describes the development as a permanent structure comprising 10 occupied levels.
The county cited alleged violations of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act No. 13 of 2019, the Building Code 2024 and other applicable regulations, claiming that the development had been undertaken without the necessary planning permission.
Among the directives issued was the immediate vacation of all occupants and the removal of the structure.
The county warned that failure to comply could trigger further enforcement action, with the costs incurred in implementing the measures recoverable from the responsible parties as a civil debt.
The notice was signed on behalf of the Director of Planning Compliance and Enforcement and served on October 31, 2026.
Police officers remained stationed at the premises to secure the building and restrict access as the county's intervention continued.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the safety of residential buildings in Nairobi, coming against the backdrop of recent building collapse incidents in Eastleigh and South C that have raised questions about construction standards, regulatory oversight and the enforcement of building safety regulations.
The incidents have once again placed the spotlight on the responsibility of county authorities to ensure that developers comply with approved construction plans and that buildings undergo regular inspections to establish their structural integrity.
Nairobi has experienced rapid urban development, with demand for residential housing driving the construction of high-rise apartment blocks across several neighbourhoods. However, concerns have persisted over developments allegedly undertaken without proper approvals, deviations from approved building plans and inadequate supervision during construction.
The Kabiria incident raises fresh questions about how such developments receive approval, whether county authorities conduct routine inspections and how potentially dangerous structures are identified before residents' lives are exposed to risk.
For the tenants forced out of their homes, the immediate concern remains finding alternative accommodation, while questions surrounding the building's structural condition and compliance with planning regulations await further assessment.
The county is yet to provide further details on the extent of the structural damage or the outcome of a comprehensive technical assessment of the building.
