Ruto’s 2024 Order Allowing Buildings Above 12 Floors Goes Viral After Eastleigh Collapse

A video of President William Ruto announcing plans to allow taller buildings in Eastleigh has resurfaced online following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in the Nairobi neighbourhood on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The footage, recorded on May 6, 2024, during the President’s visit to Mathare and Kiamaiko following heavy rains and flooding, shows Ruto saying developers in Eastleigh would no longer be limited to buildings of 12 floors.

Citing his authority as Commander-in-Chief, the President said developers could construct buildings of up to 25 or 30 storeys to increase housing supply and improve living conditions.

“Since I am the Commander in Chief, I have said that in Eastleigh, you couldn’t build a house beyond 12 floors, but now we can build storey buildings of up to 30 floors so that citizens can get accommodation and live in a harmonious neighbourhood,” Ruto said.

However, the remarks were subsequently walked back in June 2024 following concerns about the proximity of high-rise buildings to Moi Air Base. Ruto committed to working with Nairobi County to ensure that existing height restrictions linked to the military facility were observed.

The video has gained renewed attention following Friday’s collapse, which left a massive pile of debris at the construction site. Reports indicate that the building had more than ten floors still under construction, while businesses were operating on the ground floor despite the absence of an occupation certificate.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene to search for people feared trapped beneath the rubble. At least one person was reportedly rescued and taken to hospital as emergency operations continued.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visited the site and said construction had been approved, but noted that occupying the lower floors before the building was cleared for use violated regulations.

The resurfaced video has sparked debate online, with some Kenyans questioning the implications of the President’s earlier remarks on high-rise development.

However, authorities have not linked the collapse to Ruto’s 2024 directive. Investigations into the cause of the structural failure and possible breaches of building regulations are ongoing.

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