18-Storey Eastleigh Building Collapses Days After Moi Avenue Demolition Accident
The collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, has raised fresh questions about construction-site safety, regulatory oversight and the protection of people living and working around high-rise developments.
The structure, reportedly located along Yusuf Haji Avenue near Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street, collapsed at about 1pm on Friday, October 23, prompting an emergency response amid fears that people were trapped beneath the rubble. Reports from the scene described the building as having reached 18 floors, although Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamed gave a preliminary estimate of about 10 floors.
Mohamed said officers were awaiting further information while emergency teams worked to reach anyone who might have been trapped. Additional police personnel had been dispatched to coordinate the response. The Kenya Red Cross also confirmed that its response teams were heading to the scene.
Authorities had not confirmed whether the developer had obtained the necessary approvals, whether the project complied with applicable regulations or what caused the structure to fail. Kenya has a national regulatory framework governing building design, construction and site safety. The National Building Code 2024, published through Legal Notice No. 47 on March 1, 2024, came into force on March 1, 2025, replacing the previous building regulations.
The code establishes standards covering building design, construction operations, inspection, maintenance and the safety of people working at or using buildings. It also addresses the prevention of structural collapse and the management of risks at construction sites. The National Construction Authority is responsible for enforcing the prescribed building code.
The Eastleigh incident comes less than a week after a separate building collapse during planned demolition work at Avenida Building along Moi Avenue in Nairobi’s central business district. That incident, reported on October 17, left four workers injured, according to reports citing county officials.
Nairobi County subsequently said a structural safety assessment would be conducted before further work was allowed at the site. County officials also called for investigations into the demolition process, professional supervision and the relevant approvals.
