A routine search for scrap metal turned fatal in Nairobi’s Makongeni estate on Wednesday, after a heavy concrete slab collapsed, killing two people. The incident occurred at the controversial demolition site for a new government housing project, an area authorities confirmed was supposed to be off-limits to the public.

The tragedy starkly highlights the life-threatening risks some Nairobians take to earn a living. According to officials, the victims were among several residents who had been sneaking into the hazardous zone to salvage and sell metal debris from the flattened buildings. The demolition of the old estate was completed in late November to pave the way for a major affordable housing development.

A Site Plagued by Controversy

The Makongeni demolition has been contentious for weeks. The government pushed ahead with the clearing of the 139-acre site, owned by the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, despite a court order issued in November 2025 to halt the evictions. While authorities, including Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga and Makadara MP George Aladwa, stated that most of the 3,600 registered tenants received KES 150,000 in relocation compensation, some residents disputed the claims, citing a rushed and opaque process.

This backdrop of conflict left the sprawling rubble-filled site a dangerous, yet tempting, source of income for scavengers. One youth was quoted during the demolitions saying, "We are not stealing... we are only taking what is left. This is our chance."

Coordinated but Dangerous Rescue

Emergency services responded swiftly to the collapse. Makadara Deputy County Commissioner Philip Koima described the rescue operation as "fast and coordinated," noting that disaster teams were deployed within minutes. Firefighters from the Nairobi County government and officers from the Makadara Sub-County Security Committee worked to seal off unstable sections and comb through the debris for other potential victims.

Rescuers navigated treacherous ground, using heavy machinery and cutting tools on twisted metal, with one firefighter noting the constant fear of another collapse. As the recovery mission concludes, the focus now shifts to how authorities will secure such hazardous sites to prevent another tragedy, balancing national development goals with the immediate safety of its most vulnerable citizens.