Rescue Teams Search Eastleigh Building Collapse Site as Families Await News
NAIROBI, October 23, 2026 — Rescue workers searched the rubble of a multistorey building under construction in Eastleigh on Friday after the structure collapsed in the afternoon, leaving residents fearful that people were trapped beneath the debris.
The collapse occurred at about 1 p.m. on a busy commercial street, according to the Associated Press. The structure had more than ten floors under construction. Concrete and other wreckage fell close to businesses and buildings in the surrounding area.
At least one injured woman was pulled from the scene and taken to hospital, AP reported. Construction workers and families gathered nearby as rescuers worked to establish whether anyone else was trapped. An official final casualty count had not been announced in the initial reports.
Search continues amid safety concerns
Emergency workers began clearing rubble using available tools before additional equipment arrived. Crowds were asked to give responders space and keep away from unstable sections of the site.
One worker who escaped shortly before the collapse told reporters he feared colleagues could still be buried under the concrete. That account had not been confirmed by an official tally of missing workers at the time of publication.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the project had construction approval but lacked an occupancy certificate, according to AP. Investigators had not publicly established the cause of the collapse. Approval to build and permission to occupy premises are separate matters, and authorities will need to determine whether all applicable requirements were met.
Questions for investigators
Investigators will need to examine the building’s structural design, construction practices, inspections and the circumstances in which ground-floor premises were being used while work was continuing. None of those possible factors should be reported as the cause before investigators publish their findings.
Residents should avoid the scene and follow instructions from emergency personnel. Families looking for missing relatives should seek updates from the responsible rescue agencies rather than rely on unverified casualty lists circulating online.
This report is based on Associated Press reporting published October 23, 2026. Daily Report KE will update casualty information and the investigation findings when confirmed by authorities.
