Two survivors were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area on Saturday, as rescue operations continue for five people still missing. The structure, which was under construction, gave way on Friday afternoon, prompting a government investigation into the developer and the safety standards of the site.
Rescue Efforts at the Eastleigh Site
Rescue teams, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Youth Service (NYS), and the Kenya Red Cross, have been working to clear the site of the collapsed building on 9th Street. The operation faced significant challenges on Friday night when rescuers were forced to pause the use of heavy machinery. According to reports from the Daily Nation, individuals trapped beneath the debris communicated that the vibrations from diggers were limiting their oxygen supply.
Interior ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that 66 of the 67 workers present at the site escaped without life-threatening injuries, while one person sustained injuries. While initial reports suggested seven people were missing, the rescue of two survivors on Saturday has narrowed the search. The missing individuals are believed to have been inside 11 shops operating on the ground floor and basement levels at the time of the collapse.
“We are hopeful that they are safe and that these rescue operations will ensure they are saved alive.”
Kipchumba Murkomen, Interior ministry official
Governor Sakaja Says Developers Lacked Occupation Certificates
The collapse has reignited public debate regarding the enforcement of construction regulations in Nairobi. Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson stated that the developers did not possess the required certificate of occupation, making the presence of shops in the building illegal. He characterized current penalties for such violations as a slap on the wrist
for developers who disregard approved building plans and safety standards.
According to records from the National Construction Authority (NCA), the project was registered on July 30, 2025. The authority identified the developer as 9th Street Plaza Limited, with Stromax Holdings E.A. Limited serving as the contractor. The records further list Emmanuel Mwangi Maina as the architect and Joseph Muturi Mugu as the structural engineer. However, the NCA has not publicly confirmed whether the building underwent formal inspections prior to the incident.
Investigation Into Negligence and Safety Standards
Police have launched a manhunt for the building’s owner and the contractor. Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud emphasized that the authorities intend to hold those responsible accountable for the collapse, which he noted had left more than a dozen floors stacked like pancakes.
Interior ministry official Murkomen issued a stern warning regarding the broader culture of construction in the capital, stating, Njia za mkato hazitatusaidia kama nchi. Ufisadi hautatusaidia. Kutafuta pesa za haraka kunaweza kugharimu maisha.
He has called for immediate, nationwide inspections of buildings to ensure compliance with safety codes, noting that this is the second building collapse reported in Nairobi this year.
The site remains a focal point for emergency services, who are operating under the threat of a secondary collapse as the debris leans against an adjacent structure. For workers like Joseph Kaula, who was a plasterer on the fifth floor, the event was a narrow escape. I was the last person to walk out before it collapsed and the whole area was filled with dust,
Kaula said.