Nairobi building under construction collapses; many feared trapped
Multistorey building under construction in Nairobi's Eastleigh collapsed on 23 October 2026; officials say it lacked an occupation certificate though shops operated.
The story in focus
A multistorey building under construction collapsed at about 1pm local time on 23 October 2026 on a busy commercial street in Nairobi's Eastleigh area, Al Jazeera reported. Many people are feared trapped and rescues were continuing. Officials said the building had no occupation certificate although ground-floor shops were in use.
- The collapse occurred at about 1pm local time (10:00 GMT) on 23 October 2026 in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
- Police chief Issa Mohamud said more than 10 upper floors were under construction and warned of a possible second collapse.
- Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building was approved for construction but lacked an occupation certificate, making the ground-floor shops illegal.
What happened
Al Jazeera reported that a multistorey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi's Eastleigh neighbourhood on Friday 23 October 2026 at about 1pm local time (10:00 GMT), on a busy commercial street crowded with traders and residents. Many people were feared trapped beneath a large mound of concrete.
Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud said more than 10 upper floors were under construction. According to The Associated Press, the ground floor had been rented to an electronics shop, a butchery and a grocery. Mohamud said one injured woman was rescued and taken to hospital, and warned of a potential second collapse because the building was leaning on its neighbour.
Rescue and official response
Rescuers used poles stripped from trees and excavators to move concrete bound with steel, as heavy equipment was slow to arrive. Al Jazeera's Catherine Soi, reporting from Nairobi, said rescuers and authorities were being asked to answer for people being inside a building under construction, and that rescue efforts were expected to continue through Friday night and Saturday.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja told reporters that the building had been approved for construction but had no certificate of occupation, so opening shops on the ground floor was illegal. He said it was possible one or two people had died. Police said they would investigate and that anyone found negligent would face the law.
Wider inspection record
Kenya's National Building Inspectorate found that 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide last year failed to meet standards or lacked approvals, according to the AFP news agency. Sakaja said county governments needed stronger enforcement powers, describing lenient penalties as a slap on the wrist.
What did officials say about the building's approvals before the collapse?
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building had been approved for construction but had no occupation certificate, so ground-floor shops were illegal. Police chief Issa Mohamud said more than 10 upper floors were under construction.
Sources & further reading
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