Rescuers have rescued two survivors and rushed them to hospital after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, prompting a major search-and-rescue operation involving multiple emergency agencies.
According to a statement by the National Police Service (NPS) on October 24, the building collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh on Friday, October 23. Following the incident, the police and a multi-agency response team took command of the scene to coordinate rescue efforts.
“Following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday, 23 October 2026, the National Police Service, together with a multi-agency response team, took command of the scene to lead a high-stakes search-and-rescue operation. So far, two survivors have been rescued and rushed to hospital,” stated the NPS.
Search for Survivors Ongoing
The NPS said rescue teams are continuing to search for additional survivors believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
The operation now involves the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the Kenya Red Cross, Nairobi City County emergency teams and other responders. Heavy excavators, specialised canine units, and rescue personnel have been deployed to help safely extract any survivors.
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Police have urged members of the public to avoid Yusuf Haji Avenue and 9th Street to allow emergency teams unrestricted access to the site.
At the same time, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and whether any building regulations were violated.
The NPS said it is conducting the probe in collaboration with relevant professional bodies and warned that it will take legal action against any individuals or entities found responsible for negligence.
A manhunt has also been launched for the building owner and the contractor linked to the construction site.
Family members seeking information about missing relatives have been asked to report to the Kenya Red Cross desk established at the scene or contact emergency responders through the 1199 hotline.
“We advise family members seeking information about missing relatives to report immediately to the Kenya Red Cross desk established at the scene or to contact the emergency response number, 1199,” said NPS.
The police said they will provide further updates as the search-and-rescue operation progresses.
Govt Orders Investigation Into Eastleigh Building Collapse
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government had already ordered investigations into the incident shortly after the collapse on Friday.
In an earlier update on October 23, Murkomen said 67 construction workers were at the site when the building gave way, with 66 escaping unhurt while one sustained injuries and was admitted to hospital in stable condition.
He added that 11 shops on the ground floor and in the basement were occupied at the time of the collapse, and seven people were reported missing. According to the Cabinet Secretary, rescue teams had established contact with some of those trapped beneath the rubble as efforts to reach them continued.
Murkomen said a multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Red Cross and other agencies had been deployed to lead the search-and-rescue operation.
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The Cabinet Secretary also announced that the government had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse and warned that anyone found responsible would be held accountable.
“The cause of the collapse will be thoroughly investigated by the relevant national and county government agencies in collaboration with the relevant professional bodies. Those found responsible will be held accountable,” he said.
Sakaja Warns Developers Against Unsafe Construction Practices After Eastleigh Building Collapse
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has also cautioned developers against construction practices that compromise building safety following the building collapse in Eastleigh.
Speaking at the site of the collapse on 1st Avenue, 9th Street, on October 23, Sakaja urged professional bodies representing architects, engineers and quantity surveyors to take action against developers who sideline qualified consultants after obtaining project approvals and continue construction without the required professional oversight.
The governor said such practices undermine safety standards and increase the risk of building failures.
Sakaja also renewed calls for county governments to be granted prosecutorial powers, arguing that existing enforcement mechanisms and penalties are insufficient to deter violations of building regulations.
He said Nairobi County has formally requested the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider restoring the powers, adding that stronger enforcement is needed to deal with developers who ignore construction rules and endanger lives.
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