Rescue operations have resumed at the site of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, after a brief suspension on Friday evening to allow emergency responders to consult on how to safely reach people trapped beneath the rubble.
The temporary halt came after reports that people trapped inside the debris had warned rescuers that ongoing excavation was affecting their oxygen supply, prompting emergency teams to stop the use of excavators while reviewing their approach.
The operations resumed at approximately 6:45 pm on Friday, October 23, 2026, following consultations among disaster response teams.
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Authorities are continuing the search for survivors as police launch a manhunt for the building’s owner, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the collapsed structure had received an approval certificate from the county government but lacked an occupation certificate, raising concerns about how the building came to be occupied while construction was still ongoing.
The governor also questioned the conduct of developers who allegedly replace qualified professionals after securing construction approvals, potentially leaving projects under the supervision of individuals whose credentials have not been properly verified.
“We are appealing to all professionals that once you are given an approval and later fired, you must report to the regulators as well as the county government, because from the look here it appears like there was no professional on site,” Sakaja said.
The building collapsed on Friday along Yusuf Haji Avenue, next to Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street in Eastleigh. Businesses and other activities were reportedly taking place on the lower floors despite the ongoing construction.
One woman had been rescued from the rubble as emergency teams worked to establish how many people remained trapped. Sakaja said rescuers had heard people communicating from inside the collapsed structure and were clearing debris to create space for oxygen to reach them.
Footage of the building taken shortly before the collapse showed a structure estimated to have up to 18 floors, according to a report by Kenyans.co.ke.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamed said authorities would pursue anyone found responsible for the incident, including individuals who authorised the construction.
He warned that those found culpable of criminal negligence would face the law, adding that the building’s owner had not presented himself to police.
A casual labourer who had been at the site before taking a lunch break told reporters that more than 70 people, including construction workers, food sellers and other service providers, may have been in the basement when the building collapsed.
However, that figure has not been independently verified, and authorities have yet to establish the total number of people trapped beneath the rubble.
The rescue operation has brought together personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), General Service Unit (GSU), regular police, the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, the Bomb Disposal Unit, the National Youth Service, the Kenya Red Cross and other specialised emergency response teams.
Excavators, concrete breakers and sniffer dogs have also been deployed to assist in clearing debris and locating possible survivors.
Nairobi police leadership has urged residents to keep away from the scene to give emergency responders sufficient space to carry out rescue operations safely.
Meanwhile, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has called for an independent investigation into the building approval system, citing concerns over alleged corruption, negligence and weaknesses in the enforcement of construction regulations.
The collapse has renewed questions about building safety, professional accountability and the enforcement of construction standards in Nairobi, particularly in areas experiencing rapid urban development.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse, whether the building complied with approved plans and who may bear responsibility for the incident.
For now, rescue teams remain focused on reaching those still believed to be trapped, while authorities work to establish the full scale of the disaster.
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