A preliminary investigation by the National Construction Authority (NCA) has suggested that the collapse of a storey building in Mombasa’s Majengo area on November 11 may have been caused by soil saturation.
The incident, which occurred during excavation work on a 17-floor residential building, has raised concerns about construction safety in the region.
The NCA’s initial findings point to a soakage pit near the site as the likely source of the soil instability.
Soakage pits are designed to allow water to seep into the ground, but when improperly managed, they can weaken soil and destabilize structures.
The building, still in its early stages, was undergoing foundation work when it collapsed.
The NCA confirmed that the project had the necessary statutory approvals, dismissing claims that the collapse was due to regulatory violations.
While the exact cause of the failure is yet to be determined, the NCA plans to conduct further investigations in the coming days to gain a clearer understanding of the collapse.
In the meantime, the site has been cordoned off to prevent additional incidents.
The collapse tragically resulted in one fatality and left four others injured.
Two people were rescued shortly after the incident, while one worker remained trapped under the rubble.
A multi-agency team, including the Kenya Police and Kenya Red Cross, launched a search-and-rescue operation. The victim was taken to hospital in stable condition.
The collapse occurred shortly after the Kenya Meteorological Department issued a heavy rainfall warning for the coastal region, raising concerns that the rain may have contributed to the soil saturation.
This incident adds to a growing number of building collapses in the region, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of construction regulations and improved safety standards.
The NCA has vowed to continue investigating and improving safety protocols across the industry.
