Eastleigh Building Collapse: Seven People Still Missing as Rescue Enters Second Day
Efforts to find seven missing people trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, entered a second day on Saturday, as it emerged the developer was operating without full county approval.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that although the property along 9th Street received a change-of-use approval in 2024, the county rejected plans for a 15-storey structure with a basement.
County planners had raised safety concerns as early as November 2024 regarding intended shop developments in the basement and ground floor. An enforcement order was subsequently issued against the development earlier this year.
Eleven shops on the ground floor and basement were occupied when the multi-storey building collapsed on Friday afternoon, prompting fears that business owners, customers, and visitors are trapped beneath the debris.
Search operations remain focused on clearing heavy rubble to access the lower levels. Nairobi regional police commander Issa Mohamud said rescue teams are concentrating their efforts on reaching the ground floor where people are believed to be trapped.
The county government has forwarded relevant documents to the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to establish accountability among the developers, professionals, and regulatory officers involved.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that all 67 construction workers who were present at the site during the incident have been accounted for. Sixty-six escaped without injuries, while one worker is receiving treatment in hospital in stable condition.
A multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross, National Youth Service, and county emergency personnel is coordinating the operation on site.
The Ministry of Health has activated disaster protocols, establishing a 24-hour response desk at the scene and deploying medical personnel from referral hospitals. Nearby health facilities have been placed on standby to receive casualties.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni instructed public health officers to actively inspect construction sites across the city for occupational hazards and report risks immediately to prevent similar disasters.
Authorities and the Kenya Red Cross have set up support centers at the scene to provide medical care and psychosocial support to distressed families.
The government has urged relatives seeking missing family members to contact the Kenya Red Cross emergency line on 1199, while advising members of the public to stay clear of the operational area.
