The Kenya Red Cross has received 31 missing-person reports following the collapse of a multi-storey building in Nairobi, as rescue teams continue searching for people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The building collapsed on Friday, October 23, along 9th Street in Eastleigh, a busy commercial and residential neighbourhood in Kenya’s capital.
Red Cross disaster officer Benson Ochieng said on Saturday that 31 cases had been registered at the organisation’s tracing desk. However, the reports are still being verified, and two people have already been reunited with their families.
The figure does not mean that 31 people have been confirmed trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Seven Feared Trapped as Rescue Operations Continue
Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, previously confirmed that seven people had been reported missing following the incident.
He said 67 construction workers were at the site when the building collapsed. Of that number, 66 escaped without injuries, while one was injured and taken to hospital.
Authorities also confirmed that 11 shops operating on the building’s ground floor and basement were occupied at the time of the collapse.
Rescue teams involving the Kenya Defence Forces, police, Kenya Red Cross and other emergency agencies continued clearing the debris on Saturday.
Specialised equipment, including sniffer dogs and thermal sensors, has been deployed to help locate possible survivors.
Governor Raises Questions Over Building Approval
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has revealed that the collapsed building did not have approved construction plans.
According to Sakaja, the county government approved a change of use for the property in October 2024. However, a subsequent application to construct a 15-storey building with a basement was never approved.
He said county authorities had previously taken enforcement action over the development.
The National Construction Authority has also identified the developer, contractor and professionals registered for the project.
Authorities have opened investigations to establish the cause of the collapse and determine whether construction regulations were violated.
Police Investigate as Families Await News
Nairobi police have launched a search for the building’s owner as investigations continue.
The Kenyan Ministry of Health has established a 24-hour response desk at the scene to coordinate medical assistance and support families seeking information about missing relatives.
The Kenya Red Cross is also conducting contact tracing to establish how many people remain unaccounted for.
The collapse has renewed concerns about building safety, construction approvals and enforcement of regulations in Nairobi.
Authorities have promised to hold anyone found responsible accountable, while rescue teams continue searching for survivors.
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