By Pascal Ndegwa - Reporter
Loading article content...
Loading article content...
Kenya ,October 23 ,2026 - Rescue teams continued working through the evening on Friday at the site of a 16-storey building that collapsed along Yusuf Haji Avenue in Eastleigh, with around 18 workers and a group of women who had been selling foodstuffs nearby still unaccounted for.
The collapse, described by some observers as a pancake-type failure in which floors stacked onto one another, has raised immediate concerns about the quality of the structure, the metals used and the materials employed in construction.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, speaking from the scene, said the building had proper documentation but confirmed that the owner was still being sought. He emphasised that the priority remained the search for anyone who may have been trapped.
Sakaja appealed for space after tear gas canisters were heard amid ongoing commotion. He said emergency teams needed clear access so they could move machinery and clear debris as quickly as possible.
Kenya Defence Forces personnel were on the ground with additional equipment to support the operation, alongside Nairobi City County teams, the Kenya Red Cross, the National Disaster Operations Centre and sniffer dogs. Several backhoes were present, though limited access continued to slow progress. A Red Cross tent had been set up and all health staff remained on standby.
The county, Red Cross and KDF were working closely to ensure the rescue operation moved forward as efficiently as possible. Residents in the area expressed mixed reactions. Some complained that the rescue appeared slow, while others described narrow escapes.
More from Kenya
One worker said he had stepped out to a nearby shop moments before the building came down and only realised later how close he had come to becoming a casualty. Many traders and onlookers remained near the site despite repeated calls for them to move back.
The governor also used the moment to highlight long-standing enforcement problems. He said once buildings receive approval, some developers dismiss registered professionals and leave only a foreman on site, which is unlawful.
He called on architects and engineers whose names appear on approval documents to notify their professional bodies if they are later removed from a project. Sakaja further urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to restore prosecutorial powers to Nairobi City County so that those who flout building laws can be dealt with firmly.
The Architectural Association of Kenya is expected to issue its own update, as this is not the first time multi-storey buildings have collapsed in the city. Attention is turning to who approved the Eastleigh project, what measures are in place to ensure workmanship meets required standards, and how disaster response systems can move faster when such incidents occur.
Sakaja said teams had all the necessary materials and equipment. He asked anyone who knew of people who had been working at the building or selling food nearby to share their names with the Kenya Red Cross for follow-up, and shared a hotline for public information. He prayed that no lives had been lost and promised further updates as the search continued.
This is a developing story.