Eastleigh building collapse: At least 10 feared trapped as rescue operation enters day 13

Rescue teams said at least 10 people are still believed to be trapped in the basement, with efforts to reach them now at a critical stage.

The two bodies, retrieved on Sunday and Tuesday this week, are both female. Families who suspect the deceased may be their missing relatives have been asked to present themselves at the Nairobi City Mortuary for post-mortem examinations and DNA profiling to facilitate formal identification.

The update comes barely 24 hours after the National Police Service confirmed the recovery of the second female body. Four survivors had been pulled alive from the rubble.

Now in its 13th day, the rescue operation continues, with families still camping at the site, holding on to hope and awaiting news of their missing loved ones.

The multi-storey building collapsed on October 23, 2026, at around 1:00 pm, with Nairobi Regional Commander Issa Mohamud confirming that the building was partially occupied, with tenants on the basement and ground floors.

Following the incident, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja called for amendments to the law to empower county governments to take legal action against those who flout building regulations.

“We have formally written to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and we hope our request will be considered. Counties must be empowered to take firm action against rogue developers who disregard building regulations and put lives at risk,” Sakaja said.