Eastleigh rescue mission enters day 10 with 11 people believed to be trapped

The search and rescue mission at the collapsed building in Eastleigh has entered its final stages, with rescuers now focusing on the remaining 10 per cent of the debris, where 11 people are believed to be trapped.

The operation received a major boost following the deployment of two additional excavators to help clear the rubble.

With additional resources, families camping at the site hold on to hope that they will either be reunited with their loved ones or recover their remains.

Three excavators manoeuvre through the rubble of the 18-storey building that collapsed 10 days ago along Ninth Street as plant operators from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Youth Service (NYS) work tirelessly to clear the remaining debris.

With every scoop of rubble comes renewed hope of being reunited with their loved ones. For these families, the collapse brought their lives to a sudden standstill. 

“Sikukuwa nimezoea kukaa hivi sijakuwa nimezoea kukaa hapa unaamka saa kumi na mbili unapata uko tu hapa unangojea mpendwa wako, mvua imenyesha tuki wa hapa, jua imewaka nikiwa hapa, kwa moyo wangu sijaona kama ni vizuri nitokee hapa niendee mahali mbali,” said Judith Cherubet, a victim’s relative.

“Kulingana na officers wanafanya hapa wametuelezea, wametuambia shughuli itaisha leo na nina furahia sana na ndio maana nimeamka mapema leo licha ya kuamka mvua inanyesha nini tumekaa tukingojea kwa hiyo mvua, nimengojea sister yangu atokee siku ya leo.”

The family of Rose Chepkoech, a tailor who worked in the ill-fated building, is among 11 families that have camped at the site.

The Kenya Red Cross has confirmed that four people who had earlier been reported missing have since been reunited with their loved ones, offering a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing search and rescue operation.

 But the prolonged operation is taking a toll not only on families, but also on business operators in the area, who say the ongoing exercise has disrupted their businesses and livelihoods.

“10 days kazi imelala sana na saa hii ni end of the month nataka kulipa rent, nataka kulipa wafanyikazi, nataka kulipa wifi, wateja wamefungiwa huko nje, wajaribu kufanya haraka haraka ile tuweze kurecover ikiendelea hivi tutafunga duka,” said Muhidin Abdi, a businessman.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament (MP) Yusuf Hassan said that the incident has prompted a probe into structural and management integrity.

“Hii rescue imeendelea kwa muda mrefu sana,uokoaji umeendelea kwa muda mrefu sana na kuna tatizo hapa kubwa sana ambalo tutahitaji kuliangalia na kulipeleleza,” he said.

Meanwhile, detectives are still trying to trace the phone of one of the missing persons after it reportedly became reachable on Saturday, allowing her family members to make contact.

The development has renewed hope of finding her, as investigators pursue leads that could help establish her whereabouts.

The search and rescue operation is expected to conclude within the next 24 hours or more, as rescuers continue clearing the remaining debris