Nairobi, Kenya | October 23, 2026

Several people are feared trapped after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighbourhood on Friday afternoon, prompting an emergency response as authorities worked to establish the number of people who may have been inside.

The building collapsed at around 1 p.m. along 9th Street in the Yusuf Haji Avenue area, sending debris across the busy neighbourhood and disrupting businesses and movement in the area. The exact number of people who may have been trapped had not been confirmed as of Friday evening.

The structure was still under construction, with the ground floor reportedly already occupied when it collapsed. The circumstances raised concerns that workers and other occupants could have been inside the building at the time of the incident.

Nairobi County disaster teams, police, specialised rescue personnel and the Kenya Red Cross were deployed to the scene. Rescue teams began clearing debris and searching the rubble for possible survivors while medical responders remained on standby.

The Kenya Red Cross urged members of the public to keep away from the affected area to allow emergency personnel to operate safely and ensure rescue vehicles and equipment could reach the site.

Police also moved to control crowds that had gathered around the building. Officers reportedly used tear gas after onlookers obstructed access routes needed by emergency responders.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamed said emergency teams were prioritising efforts to save lives while securing access for medical and rescue personnel. Additional officers were deployed to secure the area and support the emergency operation.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visited the scene as emergency teams continued their work. Authorities had not immediately established what caused the building to collapse, and a detailed investigation is expected once the immediate emergency response is completed.

Investigators are expected to examine the building's approvals, structural integrity and compliance with construction regulations as they determine the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

The incident has renewed concerns over construction safety in Nairobi, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods where construction sites operate alongside homes, businesses and other occupied premises.

Eastleigh is one of Nairobi's busiest commercial areas, and the collapse caused significant disruption as traders, residents and passersby were forced to keep away from the affected section of 9th Street.

As the operation continues, authorities have urged the public to avoid the site and allow emergency personnel to work without obstruction. The number of casualties and the cause of the collapse remained unconfirmed as of Friday evening.