A tall building under construction collapsed Friday in Eastleigh, a busy commercial area of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, leaving a huge mound of concrete with more than a dozen floors stacked tightly on top of each other and many people feared trapped.
It is not known how many people were inside. Police said one injured woman was pulled out and taken to a hospital.
What We Know So Far
The building came down at about 1 p.m. on a busy street in Eastleigh, which is often crowded with thousands of traders and residents. The Star, a Kenyan news site, placed it on 9th Street, off 1st Avenue, in Kamukunji Sub-County. A passerby told the outlet the structure fell in about two minutes.
Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud said the building had more than 10 upper floors under construction. One person was rescued and another who had been calling for help went silent, he said. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also confirmed a rescue.
Residents said some trapped loved ones phoned for help right after the collapse, but their phones later could not be reached. A tent was set up for people to report the missing.
Joseph Kaula, a plasterer on the fifth floor, said he heard screams and saw workers running out shouting that the building was falling. “I was the last person to walk out,” he said. He suspects some colleagues were trapped in the basement.
Alexander Mugure, another worker, told The Star that workers saw a crack in one corner of the building and some moved out. About 70 workers were on site, he said, and most ran out. He worried that some were in the basement.
Rescuers hoped to reach any spaces left in the basement and ground level, which had been rented out for an electronics shop, a butchery and a grocery while work continued above.
Heavy equipment was scarce at first. Hours later, rescuers in hard hats used poles stripped from trees to probe the rubble. One excavator began moving concrete bound with steel, and at least two more back shovels arrived by evening. Governor Johnson Sakaja said officers were clearing debris to let air reach anyone trapped inside.
Police fired tear gas at people who began looting neighboring shops and to disperse crowds so emergency teams could get through. Mohamud warned of a possible secondary collapse because the building was leaning on its neighbor.
What Authorities Are Saying
“Investigations will be carried out,” Mohamud said. “We’ll make sure people face the law for any negligence.”
Sakaja said the building had been approved for construction but lacked a certificate of occupation, so opening shops on the ground floor was illegal. County governments need stronger enforcement powers, he said, arguing that lenient penalties are a “slap on the wrist” for developers. He vowed legal action against the owner.
The National Construction Authority said the building was registered July 30, 2025, as a proposed development on 9th Street in Eastleigh, and that its records name the developer, contractor, architect and structural engineer. The authority said the site was cordoned off and a multiagency team was coordinating rescue and conducting preliminary investigations. It urged the public to keep away from the area.
Differing Accounts
The accounts differ on the building’s size. The AP described more than a dozen stacked floors and more than 10 upper floors under construction, while The Star called it an 18 story building. The AP said the building had been “approved for construction” according to Sakaja, while the NCA said it was registered in July 2025.
The AP quoted Kaula as a plasterer on the fifth floor. The Star quoted a plasterer named Joseph describing how he and colleagues on an upper floor went downstairs after hearing shouting outside. The sources do not say whether they are the same person.
The number of people trapped, the full casualty toll and the cause were not established.
Why This Matters
Building collapses are a recurring problem in Nairobi. County officials responsible for issuing building permits have been accused of failing to inspect adequately to ensure developers follow safety guidelines and construction standards, the AP said. The collapse has renewed questions about construction safety and enforcement in densely populated neighborhoods, The Star said.
What Happens Next
Rescuers are continuing to dig through the rubble. Police and the NCA have begun investigations, and Sakaja said legal action would follow against those responsible. The NCA said it would release more details on the rescue, the site and the steps being taken.
Sources: the Associated Press and The Star (star.co.ke)
