How Many People Are Feared Trapped After the Eastleigh Building Collapse in Nairobi?

What happened in Eastleigh?

An 18-storey building under construction collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on 23 October 2026, leaving several people feared trapped beneath the rubble. The collapse was reported along 9th Street, with the structure described as standing along Yusuf Haji Avenue, near the Day-to-Day Supermarket on 9th Street.

Photos from the scene showed the building reduced to piles of broken concrete, twisted metal and rubble, with dust lingering in the air and overhead power lines near the site.

Key facts

• Where: Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya, along Yusuf Haji Avenue near Day-to-Day Supermarket on 9th Street.
• When: 23 October 2026.
• What: A building under construction collapsed.
• Casualties: Several people were feared trapped, but no confirmed death or injury toll was given in the verified report at the time of writing. Figures in early reports differed and should be treated as unconfirmed until the authorities confirm them.
• Response: Police, Nairobi County emergency teams and Kenya Red Cross teams were deployed, with machinery used to clear rubble and search for anyone trapped.

Why the building height figures differ

Early reporting described the building as 18 storeys high. A Nairobi County update described a 12-storey structure under construction at the site, while Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamed was quoted as saying the house was about 10 floors and that authorities were waiting for more details as responders rushed to save lives. This article therefore reports the headline figure alongside those differing official descriptions, rather than presenting one disputed height as settled.

Emergency response and access problems

Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamed said authorities were still gathering details as rescue efforts got under way, and that responders were working to establish whether people were buried in the rubble.

Nairobi County said emergency response teams were deployed to the collapse site, that rescue personnel were assessing the site and conducting search and rescue, and that machinery had been deployed to clear rubble. A Relief Officer was also notified.

The Kenya Red Cross said its response teams were en route to the scene, describing the location as Yusuf Haji Avenue, next to Day-to-Day Supermarket on 9th Street, Eastleigh.

A large crowd gathered at the scene, blocking nearby roads and preventing ambulances and emergency responders from reaching the site. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and deployed additional officers to clear access routes.

Why the occupied ground floor raised concern

Nairobi County said the building's ground floor was already occupied when the collapse occurred, raising concerns that people could be trapped. Reports also indicated that shops and rental units were operating on the lower floors even as construction continued above. That combination — an occupied lower level beneath a structure still under construction — is why rescuers treated the search as urgent, even before a confirmed toll was available.

Context: other Nairobi collapses in 2026

The Eastleigh collapse followed other building collapses in Nairobi during 2026 reported in the same verified coverage:

• On 17 October, a multi-storey building housing Club Avenida along Moi Avenue in Nairobi's central business district collapsed during a planned demolition. Four of the 24 workers at the site were injured, but all were later accounted for.
• In Westlands, a 22-storey building under construction caved in around September or October, killing one worker and trapping others.
• Earlier, on 2 January, a 16-storey residential building under construction along Muhoho Road in South C collapsed, killing at least two people and leaving workers trapped.

Those earlier cases underline why the condition of buildings under construction, and the presence of people in or near them, are central questions after any collapse, although the cause of the Eastleigh collapse itself had not been confirmed in the verified report.

What happens next

The immediate priority reported was search and rescue: assessing the site, clearing rubble with machinery, and establishing whether anyone remained buried. Authorities were still gathering details as the operation continued, so the number of people feared trapped, and any confirmed casualties, may change as official updates are issued. Readers should rely on updates from Nairobi County, the police and the Kenya Red Cross rather than early, unconfirmed figures circulating online.

Source: The Kenya Times, 23 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the Eastleigh building collapse happen?

Along Yusuf Haji Avenue, next to Day-to-Day Supermarket on 9th Street, in Eastleigh, Nairobi. Nairobi County also described the site as 1st Avenue, 9th Street, Eastleigh.

When did the collapse happen?

On 23 October 2026.

How many people died in the Eastleigh collapse?

No confirmed death toll was given in the verified report used for this article. Several people were feared trapped beneath the rubble, and that status should be described as feared or unconfirmed until the authorities publish a confirmed figure.

Why did a crowd cause problems for rescuers?

A large crowd gathered at the scene and blocked nearby roads, preventing ambulances and emergency responders from reaching the site. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and deployed additional officers to clear access routes.

Was anyone in the building when it collapsed?

Nairobi County said the ground floor was already occupied when the collapse occurred, which raised concerns that people could be trapped. Reports also indicated shops and rental units were operating on the lower floors while construction continued.