Tenants flee ten-storey Riruta building after loud bang, cracks spark alarm

Tenants of an ten-storey apartment block near Kabiria Road in Riruta Satellite, Dagoretti South, fled their homes after a loud bang on the seventh floor raised fears about the building's structural safety.

The incident occurred after tenants discovered a huge crack on one of the walls, forcing them to raise the alarm and contact Riruta Police Station and Nairobi City County officials.

Police officers and county enforcement officials responded to the scene and, after inspecting the premises and the visible cracks, ordered all occupants to vacate the building while they conducted further assessments.

The sudden evacuation left tenants scrambling to move their belongings, with some forced to abandon household items as they sought alternative accommodation.

In an enforcement notice issued by Nairobi City County under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act No. 13 of 2019 and Nairobi City County by-laws, the building was described as a dangerous and ruinous permanent structure.

The notice identifies the property as Nairobi Block 66/7880, located along Kabiria Road in Riruta Ward, Dagoretti South Sub-County. It further describes the development as a permanent structure with 10 levels of occupation.

The county cited alleged non-compliance with the Physical and Land Use Planning Act No. 13 of 2019, the Building Code 2024 and other relevant regulations, stating that the development had been undertaken without the required planning permission.

Among the directives issued was the immediate vacation of all occupants and removal of the structure. The county warned that failure to comply could result in enforcement action, with the cost of such intervention recoverable 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 are manning the building as the incident has renew concerns over building safety, planning approvals and enforcement of construction regulations in Nairobi, particularly in rapidly developing residential neighborhoods.