CS Ruku calls for patience in South C building collapse rescue operations
By Joel Masibo, January 3, 2026Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Geoffrey Ruku has called for public patience as a multi-agency team races against time to complete rescue operations following the collapse of a 16-storey building under construction in Nairobi’s South C area on Friday, January 2, 2026.
In a press statement on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Ruku noted that the rescue team, led by the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), is working tirelessly to ensure the mission is successful, and hopefully those suspected to be trapped in the debris rescued.
Ruku’s message
”On behalf of the Government, I wish to express our deep concern and solidarity with the families, friends, and loved ones of all those who may have been affected by this unfortunate incident. Immediately upon receiving information about the collapse, the Government activated a coordinated multi-agency emergency response,” Ruku said.
Under the overall command and leadership of the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), Director Duncan Ochieng is, in this case, the Incident Commander, and a fully functional Incident Command System has been established, with designated incident facilities and staging areas at the site.
The Government response is guided by clear objectives:
Ensuring the safety and security of first responders and members of the public; Conducting search, rescue, and recovery operations for suspected victims; Opening blocked roads and restoring normalcy within and around South C Shopping Centre; and Undertaking safe and orderly debris clearance once rescue priorities allow.
”At this early stage, I wish to appeal to families and friends of the suspected victims to remain patient and hopeful. The incident management team is working day and night, deploying specialised skills, equipment, and proven methods to support the ongoing response,” Ruku added.
Meanwhile, NDMU has confirmed the continuation of rescue efforts following the incident. In a statement released on Saturday, January 3, 2026, NDMU also confirmed the ongoing operation with the objectives being the safety of responders and the public, search and rescue of suspected victims and restoration of normalcy.
According to the update, rescue operations will likely take some more time to achieve the intended objectives. ”The Search and Rescue Operation continued through the night, carefully breaching and breaking, lifting and moving the slabs. Due to the technicalities involved in this operation, it is likely to take some reasonable time to achieve the incident objectives,” the statement said.
NCA’s update
This comes shortly after the National Construction Authority (NCA) confirmed the details of the particular 16-storey building collapse along Muhoho Road in the South C area.
In a press statement released on Friday, January 2, 2026, the authority said the building, located near the South C Shopping Centre and Nairobi South Hospital, was a proposed mixed-use development on Muhoho Avenue, plot number 68/1306, South C Ward, Lang’ata Sub-County.
The project was registered by NCA on November 8, 2023, but was non-compliant at the time of the collapse. Abyan Consulting Limited was listed as both developer and contractor.
The consultants on record were Architect Gideon Chege Mwangi, Engineer Peter Kimani Kireu, and Quantity Surveyor James Kirika Njoroge. The contractor was registered under category NCA 4 for building works, with Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf as the sole company director.
“The building was a Proposed Mixed-Use Development on Muhoho Avenue, plot number 68/1306, South C Ward, Lang’ata Sub County. The project was registered by the Authority on 8th November 2023, and at the time of collapse was non-compliant,” the authority stated.
“The developer on record is Abyan Consulting Limited, the same company which also served as the contractor (77721/B/0523). The consultants on record are Architect Gideon Chege Mwangi (A2101), Engineer Peter Kimani Kireu (A3687) and Quantity Surveyor James Kirika Njoroge (Q1126). The contractor is registered under the category of NCA 4 (Building Works). The sole company director is Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf.”
Following the incident, Langata Member of Parliament (MP) Phelix (Jalango) Odiwuor has called upon relevant authorities to suspend all construction activities in Nairobi’s South C estate to allow room for investigation.