EASTLEIGH BUILDING COLLAPSE RAISES QUESTIONS OVER COUNTY APPROVALS

The collapse of a multi-storey building in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area has raised fresh questions about the county government’s enforcement of construction regulations after it emerged that the structure had received construction approval but lacked an occupation certificate.

The building came crashing down at around 1pm on Friday, October 23, along Yusuf Haji Avenue, near Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street, triggering a major emergency response as fears grew that dozens of people could be trapped beneath the rubble.

The structure was still under construction when it collapsed, although businesses and other activities were reportedly taking place on its lower floors. A video showing the building shortly before the incident enabled a count of up to 18 floors, although some reports described it as a 12-storey structure.

By the time of the latest reports, one woman had been rescued alive, while emergency teams reported hearing people communicating from beneath the debris. Rescuers were carefully clearing the rubble and creating openings to allow oxygen to reach those believed to be trapped.

The number of people trapped, injuries and fatalities had yet to be confirmed.

A casual labourer who had been at the site before taking a lunch break told journalists that more than 70 people, including construction workers, food vendors and other service providers, could have been in the basement when the building collapsed. The estimate had not been independently verified.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who visited the scene alongside senior security officials, disclosed that the building had received construction approval from the county government but did not have an occupation certificate.

He further said the ground floor lacked temporary occupation authorisation, raising concerns about how businesses and other occupants were allowed to use the premises while construction was ongoing.

“Before anybody gets an occupation certificate, you’re not allowed to get into that property. At all. Even on a temporary basis. That is not allowed,” Sakaja said.

The governor said the incident exposed weaknesses in the enforcement of construction regulations, questioning whether existing penalties were strong enough to deter developers from violating the law.

“When you enforce, you find a fine of Ksh5,000. And that does not deter anyone from continuing with an illegality,” he stated.

Sakaja revealed that Nairobi County had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), seeking stronger prosecutorial powers for county courts to handle cases involving construction violations.

He argued that lenient penalties allowed developers to continue with illegal practices without facing consequences severe enough to prevent future violations.

The governor's remarks have placed renewed attention on the county's role in monitoring approved projects and ensuring buildings meet the necessary requirements before people are allowed to occupy them.

Beyond the missing occupation certificate, Sakaja raised concerns about the professional supervision of construction projects, alleging that some developers dismiss architects, engineers and quantity surveyors after obtaining county approval.

He questioned whether qualified professionals had remained involved in the collapsed building's construction, suggesting that work may have continued without adequate oversight.

“We are appealing to all professionals that once you are given an approval and later fired, you must report to the regulators as well as the county government, because from the look here it appears like there was no professional on site,” Sakaja said.

The governor disclosed that the county had written to professional bodies asking them to notify regulators and county authorities whenever their members are removed from construction sites.

According to Sakaja, the information would help authorities identify projects proceeding without the professionals responsible for supervising construction work and ensuring appropriate materials are used.

He said the county would issue a comprehensive statement after reviewing the building's documentation.

The exact cause of the collapse had not been established by the time of the governor's address. Investigations are expected to determine whether construction standards were followed and whether failures in supervision or regulatory enforcement contributed to the disaster.

Authorities have launched a manhunt for the building's owner, who had not presented himself to police by the time of the latest reports.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamed said those found responsible for the collapse, including anyone implicated in authorising or overseeing unlawful construction, would face the law.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also visited the scene as a multi-agency team coordinated rescue and security operations.

The response brought together personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), General Service Unit (GSU), regular police, Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), Bomb Disposal Unit, National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Red Cross, the National Disaster Operations Centre and Nairobi County emergency teams.

Excavators, breakers and sniffer dogs were deployed to clear the debris and help locate survivors.

Sakaja said the immediate priority was to save lives, adding that reports of communication from beneath the rubble had prompted rescuers to create openings through which oxygen could reach those trapped.

The manhunt and ongoing rescue operation have intensified calls for authorities to establish how the building was occupied without the required documentation and whether the relevant regulatory bodies fulfilled their responsibilities.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino called for an independent investigation into the collapse, accusing the Nairobi County administration of failing to adequately address alleged corruption, bribery and negligence in the building approval system.

The lawmaker's remarks added to growing demands for accountability, with the incident raising concerns about whether construction approvals and subsequent inspections are sufficient to protect residents, workers and businesses.

The collapse attracted hundreds of residents, traders and curious onlookers, bringing commercial activity in the area to a standstill.

Police officers fired tear gas to disperse crowds that had gathered around the site and obstructed access routes needed by emergency vehicles and heavy machinery.

The incident also caused major traffic congestion on roads leading into and out of Eastleigh, disrupting movement through the busy commercial hub.

Witnesses described hearing a loud, grinding sound before the structure came down, sending dust and debris into the surrounding area. Panic followed as people scrambled away from the scene.

Some residents also questioned the pace of the emergency response, expressing frustration over the availability of county rescue equipment and heavy machinery during the initial stages of the operation. Reports from the scene further indicated that some arriving emergency vehicles were pelted with stones amid the disorder.

The situation unfolded during Friday prayers, a major weekly religious observance in Eastleigh's predominantly Muslim community. Videos shared online showed residents broadcasting from the scene and appealing to Sakaja to ensure emergency teams reached the site.

The Kenya Red Cross urged members of the public to keep away from Yusuf Haji Avenue to allow rescue teams to operate without further obstruction.

As the search continued, the collapse left questions over construction approvals, occupation certificates, professional supervision and enforcement of building regulations at the centre of public scrutiny.

Authorities were yet to confirm the final casualty figures or establish the precise cause of the collapse, with investigations expected to determine whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.