The search for missing people following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, entered its second day on Saturday, with rescue teams continuing to clear debris in an effort to locate those feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Government officials said at least seven people had been reported missing after the building came crashing down along 9th Street on Friday afternoon.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, however, confirmed that all 67 construction workers who were at the site when the building collapsed had been accounted for.
Of the workers, 66 escaped uninjured, while one sustained injuries and was receiving treatment in hospital. His condition was reported to be stable.
Murkomen, who visited the scene on Friday evening alongside Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, said rescue operations were ongoing, with emergency teams working to locate and save anyone who might have been trapped under the debris.
“Seven people have been reported missing. The rescue team has made contact with some of them, and efforts are underway to rescue those trapped in the rubble,” he said.
The CS added that 11 shops located on the building’s ground floor and basement were occupied at the time of the collapse, raising concerns that traders, customers or other occupants could have been caught in the disaster.
On Saturday, Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said rescue teams remained at the scene, concentrating on clearing the rubble and reaching the lower floors.
“They are still clearing the rubble and we hope they reach the ground floors soon,” he said.
A multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service, Kenya Red Cross and other government agencies was coordinating the search and rescue operation.
The government urged families whose relatives were missing to contact the Kenya Red Cross through its emergency response number, 1199, to help establish their whereabouts and support coordination efforts.
Murkomen said the government was providing the rescue teams with the necessary support to accelerate the operation. Arrangements were also being made to assist affected individuals and families, including through psychosocial support.
He assured the public that the circumstances surrounding the collapse would be thoroughly investigated by relevant national and county government agencies in collaboration with professional bodies.
The CS warned that anyone found culpable would be held accountable.
NCA identifies project officials
Meanwhile, the National Construction Authority (NCA) has disclosed the developer, contractor and professionals listed in its records for the collapsed building as investigations into the incident begin.
According to the authority, the project was registered on July 30, 2025, as a proposed development on Land Reference Number 36/II/40 along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Kamukunji Sub-County.
The project was registered under number 53128815710410, with 9th Street Plaza Limited listed as the developer.
Stromax Holdings E.A Limited, registration number 41669/B/0618, was listed as the contractor.
The authority’s records also identify architect Emmanuel Mwangi Maina, registration number A2045, as the project architect and structural engineer Joseph Muturi Mugu, registration number A2750, as the project’s structural engineer.
In a statement issued by acting Executive Director and Registrar of Contractors Susan Rutto, the NCA said the immediate priority was protecting the public and supporting the ongoing emergency response.
The affected area had been cordoned off, with the multi-agency team coordinating rescue efforts and conducting preliminary investigations.
The authority urged members of the public to keep away from the site and other restricted areas to avoid interfering with emergency operations.
It said further updates on the rescue operation, the condition of the site and the investigations would be provided as more information became available.
The identification of the developer, contractor and professionals listed in the project records does not, on its own, establish responsibility for the collapse. Investigations will be required to determine the cause of the disaster and establish whether any construction, regulatory or professional requirements were breached.
The collapse has renewed concerns over construction safety and compliance with building regulations in Nairobi, where rapid urban development and the proliferation of multi-storey buildings have intensified scrutiny of construction practices.
As rescue operations continue, attention remains focused on locating the missing people, establishing the circumstances that led to the collapse and determining whether any lapses contributed to the disaster.
If you like our work, you can buy us a soda
Buy us a soda 🥤
