Governor Sakaja Speaks After Eastleigh Building Collapse

Authorities have launched a manhunt for the owner of the building that collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as new details emerge about its approval status and rescue teams continue searching for people feared trapped beneath the rubble.

While speaking, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that the building had received an approval certificate from the county government but lacked an occupation certificate.

The recent incident has raised concerns about how businesses were able to operate on the lower levels of a building that was supposedly still under construction.

Situated along Yusuf Haji Avenue next to Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street, the structure reportedly reached 18 stories, based on footage captured just before the collapse.

Governor Sakaja also expressed worries about developers who, after securing construction permits, might replace qualified architects and engineers with less credible professionals.

He urged construction workers who find themselves dismissed after gaining project approvals to report these issues to the relevant regulatory bodies and the county government.

Meanwhile, Nairobi’s Regional Police Commander, Issa Mohamed, stated that authorities would hold accountable anyone found responsible for the building’s collapse, including those who authorized the construction.

He warned that anyone guilty of criminal negligence would face legal consequences, and noted that the building’s owner had not yet come forward to police.

As of the latest updates, one woman had been rescued from the debris, and rescue teams were actively working to find others who might still be trapped. Rescuers had reportedly heard voices coming from within the rubble.

The operation involves several agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces, police, the National Youth Service, and Kenya Red Cross, along with the use of excavators, breakers, and sniffer dogs.

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