A multistorey building under construction collapsed on Friday in Eastleigh, Nairobi, leaving people missing and trapped as rescuers dug through the rubble. Calls for an investigation have followed, according to reports from Al Jazeera and allAfrica.
The building came down at about 1pm local time on a busy commercial street in Eastleigh, a neighbourhood crowded with traders and residents, according to Al Jazeera. Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud said more than 10 upper floors were under construction.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said 67 workers were at the site. One was injured and 66 escaped unharmed, Al Jazeera reported. Murkomen said about 11 people who were in the basement and ground-floor shops are yet to be accounted for.
The Kenya Red Cross said two injured people were rescued and taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, according to Al Jazeera. No confirmed death toll has been published.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building had been approved but had no certificate of occupation. He said opening ground-floor shops was therefore illegal. Sakaja also said one or two people may have died, a figure that has not been verified. The 11 unaccounted-for people have not been confirmed as trapped.
Police have launched a manhunt for the building’s owner, according to allAfrica. Wiper leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka called for those responsible to be held accountable and for a thorough investigation. His statement comes from an opposition leader and has not been verified by officials.
The broader context is contested. According to AFP, the National Building Inspectorate reportedly found that 87 percent of buildings it audited nationwide last year failed to meet standards or lacked approvals. The National Construction Authority said the project was registered on July 30, 2025, according to The Eastleigh Voice. It was not immediately known whether the building had been inspected before the collapse.
Safety concerns have continued at the scene. Police warned of a potential second collapse because the building was leaning on its neighbour. Local media reported looting and police firing tear gas at crowds.
The key facts in this story rely largely on Al Jazeera, and no independent confirmation of the death toll or the number of people trapped has been published. The developer or owner has not responded in the sources, and rescue status after Friday has not been updated.
Rescue efforts were expected to continue through Friday night and Saturday. Police said they will investigate and that anyone found negligent will face the law. The manhunt for the owner continues.
Sources
This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.