More than 90 families have been displaced after Nairobi City County ordered the immediate evacuation and demolition of a 10-storey apartment building along Kabiria Road in Riruta over serious structural safety concerns.

The evacuation followed an inspection by county officials who reportedly discovered extensive cracks in the building, raising fears that the structure could collapse and endanger residents.

The sudden directive caught many tenants by surprise, forcing some to leave their homes without collecting all their personal belongings.

Some residents said they were still asleep when they received instructions to vacate the premises, leaving them with little time to gather their household items and find alternative accommodation.

According to reports, Nairobi County officially declared the property dangerous and ruinous on Saturday, October 31, 2026, marking the building with red paint to warn the public against accessing it.

In its enforcement notice, the county cited violations of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, and the Building Code, 2024, alleging that the development had been constructed without the necessary planning approvals.

Authorities subsequently directed all occupants to leave immediately and ordered the demolition of the entire 10-level structure.

Police officers were deployed around the premises on Sunday, November 1, to secure the building and prevent unauthorised entry.

The evacuation has left affected families facing the challenge of finding alternative housing while trying to establish how they will recover their belongings left inside the apartments.

Nairobi Building Safety Concerns Grow

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of residential buildings in Nairobi, particularly following a recent building collapse in the Eastleigh neighbourhood.

On October 23, 2026, an 18-storey building under construction collapsed along 9th Street, off Yusuf Haji Highway, triggering a major search and rescue operation.

The incident raised fresh questions about construction standards, building approvals and the enforcement of safety regulations in the capital.

The latest evacuation in Riruta has further highlighted the challenges facing Nairobi authorities as they move to identify potentially dangerous structures and protect residents.

For the affected families, the immediate priority remains securing alternative accommodation and finding a way to retrieve their belongings as the county proceeds with its enforcement measures.