An 18-storey building under construction collapsed along 9th Street in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area on Friday, October 23, 2026, leaving several people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Governor Johnson Sakaja’s office confirmed the building had an occupied ground floor when it collapsed, raising concerns about the safety of workers and pedestrians in the busy Eastleigh neighbourhood.
Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamed stated authorities have not yet confirmed the number of victims, though additional officers were deployed to coordinate emergency services and rescuers used excavators to move debris.
Reuters reported crowds gathered at the site while rescuers searched for survivors, though the cause of the collapse and the number of casualties remain unclear.
The incident underscores risks associated with rapid urban development in Kenya’s capital, as authorities investigate structural integrity concerns affecting buildings across Nairobi and Eastleigh.
A high-rise building in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, has collapsed – seven people are missing after the incident. The building was under construction
Rescue teams have made contact with some of them, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen announced on the online news service X. According to him, the emergency workers are trying to free the people trapped under the rubble.
The disaster occurred on Friday in the Eastleigh district. Images from the scene showed a large crowd. According to local media, looting broke out after the collapse. Huge clouds of dust hung over the rubble. Conflicting reports circulated regarding the size of the collapsed building, with some mentioning up to 18 stories.
Given Kenya’s rising population, the capital, Nairobi, is currently experiencing a construction boom. High-rise buildings are springing up everywhere in a short period of time. Eastleigh is a densely populated residential and commercial district where many Somali immigrants live.
