A second body has been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi. The National Police Service (NPS) announced on Tuesday that a multi-agency team retrieved the body of a woman from the site. This brings the number of recovered bodies to two. The NPS continues to support the ongoing rescue operation and has extended its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
Four people have so far been rescued alive from the rubble, according to the police. The NPS urged the public to keep away from the affected site to allow emergency responders, rescue personnel, and specialised equipment to operate without interference. The multi-agency team is continuing to clear the remaining debris in an effort to establish whether more people are trapped.
The latest recovery comes 11 days after the multi-storey building under construction collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh on October 23. The collapse trapped workers and people who may have been inside the premises. The first body, also that of a woman, was recovered on Friday, October 30, eight days after the incident.
The discovery came as rescue teams intensified efforts to access the lower sections of the structure, particularly the basement, where some missing people were believed to be trapped. The operation has faced challenges as rescuers work through tonnes of concrete and other debris to reach sections of the building that remain inaccessible.
As of November 1, about 85 per cent of the debris had been cleared, with 16 people still unaccounted for following a verification exercise by the Kenya Red Cross and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said investigators had used mobile phone data to establish that nine of the missing individuals were at the building shortly before it collapsed.
The collapse also triggered investigations into possible breaches of construction regulations and failures in building supervision. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed the DCI to investigate possible negligence, omissions or misconduct by public officials, developers, and construction professionals involved in the project.
Investigators are expected to establish whether the building had the necessary approvals, was properly inspected, and complied with construction safety requirements. The NPS said the multi-agency team remained committed to the search-and-rescue operation and would issue further updates as new developments emerged.
Key points
- Two bodies have been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed Eastleigh building.
- Four people have been rescued alive, and 16 remain unaccounted for.
- Investigations into the building collapse are ongoing, focusing on possible breaches of construction regulations and negligence.
