Six survivors recovered from Nairobi's Eastleigh collapse; MP says Chinese team has joined search

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said on 26 October that six survivors have been recovered from the building that collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on 23 October, two of them in later operations. The two were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital and reported to be in stable condition.

The building was still under construction when it came down. "The joint rescue efforts have so far resulted in the recovery of six survivors," the KDF statement said.

The military deployed specialised Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, a rapid response unit of the Kenya Air Force and canine units to the site. KDF Central Command chief Major General William Kamoiro visited the scene to assess the rescue effort and met emergency responders.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan said Blue Sky Rescue, a Chinese non-profit emergency response organisation, had joined the operation with specialised equipment. "They have already detected two people alive in the basement of the building," he said.

On the building's approvals, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the county approved a change of use from residential to commercial-cum-residential in October 2024, but did not approve the architectural plans for the development. He also questioned how shops had been operating on the ground floor when the building reportedly had no occupation certificate.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the collapse. The inquiry is to cover the roles of county officials and the contractor.