Seven people remain unaccounted for following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as emergency teams continue searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that 67 construction workers who were at the site when the building collapsed on Friday, October 23, had all been accounted for.
According to Murkomen, 66 workers escaped without injuries, while one sustained injuries and was taken to hospital, where the person was reported to be in stable condition.
However, authorities are still trying to establish the whereabouts of seven other people believed to have been inside the building when it came crashing down.
Rescue Teams Search for Missing People
The building collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh, within Kamukunji Sub-County, triggering an emergency response involving several government agencies and rescue organisations.
Murkomen said rescue teams had established contact with some of the people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, raising hopes that they could be rescued alive.
The operation involves the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service, Kenya Red Cross and other relevant agencies.
The teams are working carefully to reach possible survivors while managing the risks associated with the unstable debris.
Authorities have urged residents who suspect that their relatives or acquaintances may be missing following the incident to contact the Kenya Red Cross through its emergency response number, 1199.
The Kenya Red Cross had earlier reported that 26 people previously listed as missing had been traced and accounted for. However, it was not immediately clear whether those individuals were part of the seven people subsequently reported missing by the Interior Cabinet Secretary.
11 Shops Were Occupied
Murkomen disclosed that approximately 11 shops located on the ground floor and in the basement were occupied when the building collapsed.
This has raised concerns about traders, employees and other individuals who may have been inside the premises at the time of the incident.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) said the site had been cordoned off as rescue operations and preliminary investigations continued.
The authority confirmed that the development had been registered on July 30, 2025, and that it had identified the developer and contractor listed in its records.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building did not have an occupation certificate, which is required before a building can be occupied. Authorities are expected to examine compliance with construction and safety requirements as part of the investigations.
Government Launches Investigation
The cause of the collapse had not been established by the time of reporting.
Murkomen said relevant national and county government agencies, working alongside professional bodies, would investigate the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
The investigation is expected to establish what led to the collapse and whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.
The incident has renewed concerns about construction safety and the enforcement of building regulations in Nairobi, particularly in densely populated commercial areas where businesses operate close to ongoing construction projects.
For now, rescue teams remain focused on locating the seven missing people and determining whether anyone else was inside the building when it collapsed.
Authorities have appealed to the public to share information that could help identify missing individuals as the search and rescue operation continues.