The Kenyan government has revealed that seven people remain missing following the collapse of a multi-storey building in Eastleigh, a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Nairobi known for its large Somali community and busy commercial activities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the latest figures on Friday, October 23, as multi-agency rescue teams continued searching through the rubble for people who may have been trapped when the building came down along 9th Street near First Avenue.
The collapse occurred at around 1 pm, turning a busy commercial area into an emergency scene as residents, traders and passers-by rushed to establish what had happened and whether people inside the building had survived.
Authorities said the structure was still under construction when it collapsed, although shops on the ground floor and in the basement were operating. The circumstances have raised serious questions about how commercial premises were being used while construction work was ongoing.
Speaking after visiting the scene alongside Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, Murkomen said seven people had officially been reported missing and were believed to have been inside shops operating on the building’s lower levels.
The premises included 11 shops, among them an electronics shop, a butchery and a grocery store. Authorities were working to establish the whereabouts of those who could have been inside when the structure collapsed.
“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,” Murkomen said.
The reported contact with people beneath the debris offered hope to families waiting for information about their relatives. However, authorities had not confirmed that those contacted had been brought out safely.
The government urged anyone searching for a missing relative or acquaintance who might have been inside the building to contact the Kenya Red Cross through its emergency response number, 1199.
66 Construction Workers Escape Without Injuries
Murkomen also provided an update on the construction workers who were at the site when the building began to collapse, saying 67 workers had been present.
Of these, 66 escaped without injuries, while one sustained injuries and was taken to hospital, where the worker was reported to be in stable condition.
The figures accounted for the construction workers but did not resolve the whereabouts of the seven people reported missing from the shops. Rescue teams therefore continued working to locate those believed to be beneath the rubble.
The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, Nairobi City County Government, the National Youth Service and the Kenya Red Cross.
Rescuers deployed excavators and other equipment to remove debris and access areas where people could be trapped. Officials said the operation required caution because of the risks associated with working around the unstable remains of the structure.
Government Orders Investigation Into Cause of Collapse
Alongside the rescue operation, Murkomen announced a multi-agency investigation to establish what caused the building to collapse and determine whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.
The investigation is expected to involve the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Nairobi County inspectors, the National Construction Authority and the ministry responsible for housing, alongside relevant technical professionals.
Murkomen said the government would not draw conclusions about the cause before investigators had examined the evidence. He also warned that anyone found responsible would face the law.
“We know that at the moment many Kenyans are concerned about what caused this incident. We will ensure that the investigations go on,” Murkomen said.
The probe will examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including compliance with construction requirements and the responsibilities of those involved in approving, supervising and carrying out the project.
The cause of the collapse had not been officially established by the time of the government’s latest briefing.