Former Club Avenida Building Crumbles During Moi Avenue Demolition, Injuring Four Workers

Four workers were injured after a building formerly occupied by Club Avenida collapsed during a planned demolition along Moi Avenue in Nairobi’s central business district late at night.

Nairobi City County said 24 workers were at the site when the building collapsed. Three of the injured workers were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment, while rescue teams searched the rubble to establish whether anyone remained trapped.

County fire and rescue teams worked alongside officers from the National Disaster Management Unit to secure the area and coordinate the response. Specialised canine units assisted in primary and secondary searches, while heavy machinery was deployed to clear the debris.

Authorities later confirmed that all 24 workers had been accounted for and that no deaths had been reported. The county said a fresh structural assessment would be required before further work could proceed at the site.

Nairobi City County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Geoffrey Mosiria said the late-night timing of the collapse may have prevented more serious injuries, as pedestrian and vehicle traffic along Moi Avenue is usually heavier during the day.

Mosiria called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the demolition was supervised by qualified professionals and whether the necessary regulatory approvals had been obtained. He also questioned whether the contractors had followed established demolition procedures.

He urged developers and contractors to work closely with county officials and engineers to ensure that safety measures are observed during demolition and construction projects. The building had reportedly been cordoned off several weeks earlier in preparation for redevelopment. It previously housed Club Avenida, a popular entertainment venue that closed earlier in the year.

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris also called for stronger enforcement of building regulations and greater accountability among developers and contractors. She said public authorities and construction industry stakeholders needed to work together to prevent accidents during redevelopment projects.

The exact cause of the collapse remains unclear. Preliminary accounts suggest that the removal of key metal supports in a structurally weak section of the building may have contributed to its failure. However, investigators have yet to establish the cause and are expected to examine the demolition process and the engineering measures in place.

The incident follows several building collapses and demolition accidents in Nairobi that have raised concerns about compliance with construction standards and the enforcement of safety regulations. In 2014, a demolition-related collapse near the junction of Accra Road and Dubois Road injured three people. In January 2026, a building under construction in South C collapsed, causing fatalities and prompting a multi-agency rescue operation.