67 workers accounted for, seven people missing: Murkomen speaks on Eastleigh building collapse
Rescue personnel from the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and emergency response teams search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, as rescue operations continue to locate victims trapped beneath the debris.
About seven people believed to have been inside 11 shops in a building that collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday remain unaccounted for, as rescue teams struggle to reach possible survivors amid concerns that debris removal could compromise their oxygen supply.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said about 67 construction workers were at the site before the building collapsed along 9th Street, but all had been accounted for. One worker was injured, while the other 66 escaped unharmed.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen (centre) tours the site of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, accompanied by security and emergency response personnel, as rescue operations continue amid the rubble.
However, about 11 shops are believed to be operational on the ground floor and in the basement, with seven people still unaccounted for as emergency teams continued searching the rubble.
“We are hopeful that they are safe and this rescue effort is going to ensure that they are rescued alive,” Murkomen said during a briefing at the scene on Friday.
He said the immediate priority was to locate those missing, adding that all available resources had been deployed to the rescue operation.
Rescue personnel from the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and emergency response teams search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, as rescue operations continue to locate victims trapped beneath the debris.
The search continued into the night, with responders carefully removing debris in an effort to reach people who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The operation was complicated by reports that people trapped beneath the rubble had raised concerns that excavator operations were affecting their oxygen supply.
Emergency responders reportedly suspended the use of excavators and withdrew for consultations to determine how to proceed without further endangering those who might still be alive.
Rescue personnel from the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and emergency response teams search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, as rescue operations continue to locate victims trapped beneath the debris.
The reported oxygen concerns have forced rescuers to balance the urgency of reaching survivors with the need to avoid destabilising the debris or worsening conditions beneath the rubble.
CS Murkomen described the site as delicate, saying rescue teams needed technical expertise and close coordination with engineers to prevent further danger.
“This is a very delicate site. They must apply a lot of technical knowledge, with the support of the relevant engineers, to make sure that they penetrate the building carefully without also causing any more disaster,” he said.
The CS praised the emergency teams for their efforts, expressing hope that the operation would succeed as quickly as possible.
“I want to thank our rescue teams, all of them. They are doing a fantastic job, and we pray that we succeed as fast as possible,” he said.
Rescue personnel from the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and emergency response teams search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, as rescue operations continue to locate victims trapped beneath the debris.
A multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Red Cross and other government agencies is leading the search and rescue operation.
The collapse has renewed scrutiny of construction standards and regulatory oversight in Nairobi, with questions emerging over whether the building met the required safety standards and what led to its failure.
Mr Murkomen cautioned against drawing conclusions about the building's structural integrity or the cause of the collapse before investigations were completed.
“At this point, we cannot pass judgement on anything concerning the integrity of the building or the cause of the disaster,” he said.
Rescue personnel from the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and emergency response teams search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, as rescue operations continue to locate victims trapped beneath the debris.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) has identified the developer, contractor and professionals listed in its records for the proposed development, which it said was registered on July 30, 2025.
The authority listed 9th Street Plaza Limited as the developer and Stromax Holdings E.A Limited as the contractor. Its records also named Emmanuel Mwangi Maina as the project architect and Joseph Muturi Mugu as the structural engineer.
However, the information released by the authority did not establish whether the building had been inspected before the collapse or whether regulators had previously flagged safety concerns or violations.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja separately said the building did not have an occupation certificate, a document required before a building can be occupied.
Read: Minutes to disaster: Survivors recount cracks, panic before Nairobi’s Eastleigh building collapse
Governor Johnson Sakaja interacts with a youth during his tour at the scene of the collapsed building in Eastleigh.
The circumstances surrounding the reported absence of the certificate, and whether other regulatory requirements were met, are expected to come under scrutiny as investigations progress.
Authorities have yet to establish the cause of the collapse, and the information available so far does not conclusively determine whether structural defects, construction practices, regulatory failures or other factors contributed to the incident.
Mr Murkomen said investigators would establish what happened and ensure those found responsible were held accountable.
“We must all be concerned about the integrity of our buildings, and we must get to the bottom of it. Those found culpable must face the full force of the law,” he said.
He warned engineers, quantity surveyors, building supervisors and other construction professionals that they could face legal and disciplinary action if investigations established their responsibility for the collapse.
He said the government would investigate whether criminal negligence or professional misconduct contributed to the incident, while cautioning against speculation before the facts were established.
“I don’t want to be speculative because you never know exactly what caused this unless it is properly investigated,” he said.
The CS singled out professionals involved in the design, supervision and construction of buildings, saying they had a responsibility to ensure that projects met safety requirements and protected lives.
“Professionals, engineers, quantity surveyors, supervisors of buildings, people dealing with building technology, they must understand that they have a duty to protect the citizens of this country,” he said.
He warned against corruption, shortcuts and the pursuit of quick profits at the expense of safety, saying such practices could have devastating consequences.
“The shortcuts are not going to help us as a country. Corruption is not going to help us as a country. Quick money is not going to help us as a country. It can cost our nation and cost lives,” Mr Murkomen said.
He called on national and county government departments to reassess buildings across the country to establish whether they complied with the required safety standards.
The CS also warned professionals who knowingly approved substandard structures that they could face disciplinary measures, including being barred from practising in Kenya, subject to the applicable legal and professional procedures.
He urged authorities responsible for approving and supervising construction projects to take responsibility for enforcing building regulations, saying accountability should extend beyond contractors to professionals and institutions whose actions or omissions may have contributed to unsafe construction.
Rescue personnel from the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and emergency response teams search through the rubble of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026, as rescue operations continue to locate victims trapped beneath the debris.
Mr Murkomen further called on prosecutors and courts to deal firmly with construction-related offences to deter future violations.
“We need everybody to take responsibility, and we need also the courts to become very firm, and the prosecution to take up their work very seriously when prosecuting such cases,” he said.
The CS said Kenya should not continue experiencing similar disasters without meaningful improvements in enforcement and professional accountability.
He said the Eastleigh incident was the second building collapse reported in Nairobi this year, renewing concerns over the safety of structures in the capital.
“This is the second incident in Nairobi in this year,” he said.
The incident has placed renewed focus on the enforcement of construction standards, the role of regulatory agencies and the responsibility of county authorities to ensure that buildings are safe for occupation.
While the NCA has identified the entities and professionals listed in its records for the Eastleigh development, further investigations will be needed to establish whether any individual or institution failed to meet its legal or professional obligations.
The absence of an occupation certificate, as reported by Governor Sakaja, is also likely to form part of the wider scrutiny of the building's compliance with regulatory requirements.
However, the cause of the collapse and any potential criminal or professional liability remain undetermined.
For now, the government's immediate focus remains on the rescue operation, with teams working to establish whether the people still unaccounted for can be reached alive.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether any individuals or institutions should be held accountable.
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