Several Feared Trapped As 18-Story Building Under Construction Collapses In Nairobi’s Eastleigh Area

Several people are feared trapped after an 18-story building under construction collapsed along 9th Street on Yusuf Haji Avenue in Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighborhood on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2026.

The multi-story structure, located adjacent to Day to Day Supermarket, was reportedly occupied on its lower levels, with operational retail shops and rental units running despite active construction on the upper floors.

Emergency response teams were dispatched to the site shortly after the collapse, which brought commercial activity along the busy street to a sudden halt.

“A building has collapsed along Yusuf Haji Avenue, next to Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street, Eastleigh. Kenya Red Cross response teams are en route to the scene,” the Kenya Red Cross confirmed in a statement.

Rescue Operations Hindered by Large Crowds

The incident triggered major gridlock on key access roads across the Eastlands commercial hub as crowds of residents, traders, and onlookers gathered near the rubble.

Initial rescue efforts faced delays as dense crowds along 9th Street temporarily obstructed incoming emergency vehicles and first responders. The situation was further compounded by the timing of the collapse, which coincided with weekly Friday congregational prayers in the predominantly Muslim area.

Local residents used social media livestreams to broadcast footage from the scene, calling on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and county emergency services to deploy heavy disaster-response machinery to clear the debris.

Regulatory Oversight and Investigation

By the time of publication, official figures regarding casualties, injuries, or the exact number of individuals trapped beneath the rubble had not been confirmed by authorities.

Official statements regarding regulatory compliance, structural integrity, and building plan approvals remain pending from the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG), the National Construction Authority (NCA), the National Police Service (NPS), and the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU).