A woman's body was recovered on Friday from the site of the collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, eight days after the multi-storey structure collapsed. The building, which was still under construction, collapsed along 9th Street on October 23, trapping several people beneath tonnes of concrete and debris. Rescue teams have been working around the clock to access the lower sections of the structure, particularly the basement, where some of the missing individuals are suspected to have been trapped.
Emergency response teams have made significant progress in clearing the debris, with approximately 85 per cent of the rubble cleared. However, the operation has faced challenges as teams work to access the remaining sections of the building. Six people have been rescued over the past five days, but 16 people remain unaccounted for, according to Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba. A verification exercise conducted by the Kenya Red Cross and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) helped establish the number of missing individuals.
Authorities are investigating possible breaches of construction regulations and failures in building supervision. Detectives are questioning one of the developers, alongside officials from Nairobi County, the National Building Inspectorate, and the National Construction Authority. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed the DCI to investigate possible negligence, omissions, or misconduct by public officials, developers, and construction professionals involved in the project.
The investigations aim to establish whether the building was approved, properly inspected, and constructed in compliance with the required safety standards. The DPP clarified that the Nairobi City County Government had not forwarded any inquiry file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning alleged malpractices by the developer, construction professionals, or county officials. The DCI will examine whether any acts or omissions by Nairobi City County officials, the private developer, contractors, or other professionals contributed to the collapse.
Hopes of finding more survivors were raised after specialised rescue equipment detected possible signs of life beneath the rubble. National Disaster Management Unit Director Dr Duncan Ochieng said rescue teams were working to access the areas where the possible signs of life had been detected. However, the recovery of the woman's body has brought a tragic turn to the rescue efforts.
Authorities have relied on mobile phone data to establish that nine of the missing individuals were at the building shortly before it collapsed. Four other cases are being pursued, while three families are yet to provide phone numbers to facilitate efforts to trace their missing relatives. The DCI will submit the inquiry file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for independent review and further directions upon completion of the investigations.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will take appropriate prosecutorial action against anyone found criminally culpable, provided sufficient evidence is established, regardless of their position or status. The building collapse has raised concerns about construction regulations and building supervision in Nairobi. Key investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse and potential culpability.
Key points
- 16 people remain unaccounted for following a verification exercise conducted by the Kenya Red Cross and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
- Authorities are investigating possible breaches of construction regulations and failures in building supervision.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions will take prosecutorial action against anyone found criminally culpable.
