Kenya: 18-Storey Building Collapse Raises Fears of Trapped Victims

A multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday, October 23, 2026, triggering an emergency rescue operation amid fears that people remained trapped beneath the rubble.

The building, reported to be 18 storeys high, collapsed along Yusuf Haji Avenue near Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street, an area known for its busy commercial activities.

The incident sent debris crashing onto the ground and left rescue workers facing difficulties accessing parts of the collapsed structure.

According to reports by The Sun Nigeria and other media outlets, a woman was rescued and taken to hospital, while emergency responders reported hearing another person calling for help beneath the debris.

The collapse occurred while construction was still ongoing, although shops on the ground floor and in the basement were reportedly occupied.

Rescue Operations Continue in Nairobi

Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Red Cross, Nairobi County officials, police officers and other government agencies, were deployed to the scene to search for survivors.

Excavators and other equipment were brought in to help clear the rubble and create access to areas where people might be trapped. However, the proximity of neighbouring buildings complicated rescue efforts.

Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, said seven people had been reported missing after the incident. He added that 67 construction workers were at the site when the building collapsed, with 66 escaping without injuries and one sustaining injuries.

The Kenya Red Cross subsequently reported that 26 people previously listed as missing had been traced and accounted for, while two injured people had been taken to Kenyatta National Hospital.

Rescue operations continued as authorities worked to establish the full number of people affected by the collapse.

Building Lacked Occupation Certificate

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building had received construction approval but did not have an occupation certificate.

The absence of the certificate raised questions about why businesses were operating on the ground floor while construction work was still underway.

Sakaja said the immediate priority was to save lives, adding that the circumstances surrounding the collapse would be investigated.

Police also indicated that those found responsible for negligence could face legal action after investigations establish what happened.

Concerns Over Building Safety in Kenya

The collapse has renewed concerns about construction standards, professional supervision and the enforcement of building regulations in Nairobi.

Bibiye Mahmoud, president of the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya, criticised what she described as failures to ensure that construction projects were supervised by qualified professionals.

John Ogallo, vice-president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, said residents had reported signs of structural distress, including cracks, before the building collapsed.

However, authorities had not confirmed the technical cause of the incident in the initial reports.

Kenya’s National Building Inspectorate previously reported that 87 per cent of buildings audited nationwide in the preceding year either failed to meet required standards or lacked the necessary approvals, highlighting wider concerns about building compliance.

The Eastleigh disaster has added to calls for stronger inspections, accountability among developers and stricter enforcement of construction requirements.

As rescue operations continue, authorities are expected to investigate the building’s construction history, compliance with safety regulations and the circumstances that led to its collapse.