Omanghana
Seven people have been reported missing after a multistorey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s densely populated Eastleigh neighbourhood on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The building, located along 9th Street, came down at approximately 1:40 p.m., sending clouds of dust through the area and prompting a multi-agency rescue operation.
Teams from the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces and other emergency services were deployed to search the wreckage for survivors.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that seven people were reported missing. Rescue personnel established contact with some people beneath the debris, raising hopes that more survivors could be reached.
A woman was pulled alive from the rubble, while rescuers reported hearing another trapped person. Two injured survivors were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.
According to the initial account, 67 construction workers were at the site when the building collapsed. Of those, 66 escaped unharmed, while one sustained injuries. The separate report of seven missing people came amid concerns about traders and customers occupying the building’s lower levels.
Despite ongoing construction on the upper floors, 11 shops were operating in the basement and on the ground floor. They included a butchery, a grocery store and an electronics shop.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the development had received initial construction approvals but lacked an occupation certificate. He said businesses should not have been allowed to operate inside the unfinished structure.
Authorities have launched a search for the developer as inquiries begin into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The rescue effort also faces a risk of further structural failure. Engineering experts at the scene warned that sections of the wreckage were leaning against a neighbouring high-rise building, creating additional danger for emergency crews.
The incident has renewed concerns about construction oversight and the occupation of unfinished buildings in Nairobi. The cause of the collapse had not been established in the initial reports.
Source: Omanghana
