By the 254.ke Newsroom
Six people were killed and five pulled out alive when an eight-storey building under construction partially collapsed in Syokimau on Friday morning, November 13, 2026, police and rescue officials said. The upper section of the structure gave way while workers were pouring concrete at the site off Mombasa Road, near the Syokimau access road to the SGR Nairobi terminus.
Duncan Ochieng, the assistant inspector general of police in charge of disaster management, told Reuters six bodies had been recovered and five people taken to Imara Daima Hospital. He said 405 workers were on site and all had been accounted for. The site has been closed.
What happened at the Syokimau construction site?
The collapse happened at about 9 a.m. at a construction site near Argile Hotel along the Syokimau SGR access road, in Machakos County, according to KBC. A preliminary report from the Nairobi City County emergency team, cited by Al Jazeera and Reuters, said the uppermost concrete slab caved in while construction workers were on site.
KBC reported that preliminary findings point to the upper section giving way during concreting, with a suspected failure of the formwork, the temporary moulds that hold wet concrete in place. That has not been confirmed by any investigating agency.
Rescuers from the Kenya Red Cross and an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team led the operation, KBC said. National Construction Authority (NCA) officials were also at the scene.
How many people died and how many were rescued?
Counts changed through the day, which is why early reports differ. The Kenya Red Cross first reported three people rescued and one missing, and K24 reported three deaths in the early afternoon. Later figures from police and the county emergency team put the toll at six dead and five rescued.
| Detail | Latest reported figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 6 | Police (via Reuters), KBC, Al Jazeera |
| Rescued alive | 5, taken to Imara Daima Hospital | Police (via Reuters), KBC |
| Workers on site | 405, all accounted for | Police (via Reuters), KBC |
| Storeys | 8, under construction | KBC, Al Jazeera |
| Time | About 9 a.m., Friday | KBC |
Earlier on Friday, Mavoko MP Patrick Makau urged speed in the search on social media, writing that “every second counts,” Al Jazeera reported.
What caused the collapse?
The cause has not been officially established. Nairobi East County Commissioner Were Simiyu said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances, KBC reported. The site will stay closed pending structural assessments by government agencies.
As of Friday evening, the building’s owner and contractor had not been publicly named, and no arrests had been reported.
Is this the first building collapse this year?
No. Friday’s collapse comes three weeks after a building fell in Nairobi’s Eastleigh on October 23, killing eight people, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera. The search there ran for 15 days and was called off on November 6, K24 reported.
Kenya had recorded 24 building collapses in 2026 as of October, the most of any year this decade, according to data from Stats Kenya cited by Reuters. The Stats Kenya tracker, compiled from media reports since 2020, also shows that most deaths occur at buildings that are under construction or being demolished.
The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), a state research body, has listed poor workmanship, inadequate supervision, substandard materials and faulty designs among the main causes of collapses in Kenya, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported.
Who regulates building construction in Kenya?
The National Construction Authority registers contractors and construction projects and carries out site compliance inspections. County governments approve building plans and issue development permits for sites in their area. Syokimau falls under Machakos County.
Residents and commuters around the Syokimau SGR access road should expect a cordon around the site while assessments continue. For alternative routes in the area during ongoing works, see our guide to the Mlolongo-Kamulu road closure.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly did the Syokimau building collapse?
At a construction site near Argile Hotel on the Syokimau access road to the SGR Nairobi terminus, off Mombasa Road, in Machakos County.
How many people died in the Syokimau building collapse?
Six people died, according to police and county emergency officials. Five others were rescued and taken to Imara Daima Hospital.
Is anyone still missing?
Police said all 405 workers on site had been accounted for. An earlier Kenya Red Cross update had listed one person as missing.
Has anyone been arrested?
No arrests had been reported as of Friday evening. The county commissioner said investigations are ongoing.
What caused the collapse?
Preliminary reports say the top slab gave way during concreting, possibly because of formwork failure. Officials have not confirmed a cause.
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