Seven people are reported missing after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi's Eastleigh area on October 23, 2026, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse crowds as rescue operations began. The incident adds to a series of building failures across Nairobi this year, raising renewed concerns about construction safety and regulatory enforcement.

What the records show

The National Construction Authority (NCA) identified 9th Street Plaza Limited as the developer and Stromax Holdings E.A Limited as the contractor for the collapsed structure. Emmanuel Mwangi Maina was named as the architect, and Joseph Muturi Mugu as the structural engineer. The building was between 12 and 18 storeys high and still under construction when it collapsed. Its ground floor and basement levels were already occupied by shops, including an electronics store, a butchery, and a grocery. These sections operated without an occupancy certificate, which Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja stated made their operation illegal. Police have initiated a search for the building's owner.

The timeline

On Friday, October 23, 2026, the multi-storey building collapsed around 1 PM to 1:40 PM local time on 9th Street in Eastleigh. Crowds gathered at the scene, blocking roads and preventing emergency service providers from accessing the site. Police fired tear gas to disperse onlookers and clear access for rescue teams. Some reports indicated looting of nearby shops during the chaos. Search and rescue operations continued into Saturday, October 24. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that all 67 construction workers on site were accounted for; 66 escaped uninjured, and one was hospitalized in stable condition. Murkomen also stated that seven people were reported missing, believed to have been inside the occupied shops. The Kenya Red Cross reported that two injured individuals were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital. This incident follows other building collapses in Nairobi in 2026, including one on Moi Avenue on October 17 that injured four people, and the Manzil Towers collapse on January 2 that killed two security guards.

What changed and for whom

The immediate aftermath of the collapse was marked by chaos, hindering initial rescue efforts. Emergency responders initially used poles before heavy equipment arrived. The focus has shifted to locating the seven missing individuals and ensuring accountability. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja publicly called for stronger penalties against developers who disregard construction regulations. The repeated collapses have put a spotlight on the enforcement of building codes and the permitting process in Nairobi.

What the subject has said publicly

The National Construction Authority (NCA) identified the developer, contractor, architect, and structural engineer involved in the project. The NCA's statement did not specify whether prior inspections had been conducted or if any violations were reported. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visited the site, stating the building had construction approval but lacked an occupancy certificate, making the ground floor's operation illegal. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen provided updates on the accounted construction workers and the seven missing people, who he believed were occupants of the shops. Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed that police are conducting a search for the building's owner.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact number of fatalities beyond the initial two injured individuals taken to Kenyatta National Hospital and the one injured construction worker. The specific identity of the building owner for whom a manhunt has been launched also remains unconfirmed. It is not clear from the available records whether the National Construction Authority had conducted inspections or identified any regulatory violations at the site prior to the collapse. The specific structural or engineering causes that led to the collapse have also not been publicly detailed.