Details Emerge How Ruto Gave Eastleigh Developers Green Light To Build 30 Floors In 2024

On May 6 2024 President William Ruto declared that developers in Eastleigh could put up buildings of up to 30 floors. The earlier limit was 12 floors. He said the change would ease housing shortages and promote harmonious living in the crowded Nairobi neighbourhood.

Just over two years later a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Eastleigh on Friday October 23. It stood along Yusuf Haji Avenue near First Avenue and Day to Day Supermarket.

The structure was reported as between 12 and 18 storeys. It pancaked into a pile of concrete and steel at about 1pm.

The lower floors and the basement were already occupied by shops. They included an electronics store and a butchery and a grocery. The building had no occupation certificate.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja confirmed that the building had construction approval but no certificate allowing occupancy. He called the situation illegal and potentially deadly.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said 67 construction workers were on site. Of these 66 escaped unharmed and one was injured. About 11 people were in the operational shops and several remained unaccounted for.

Rescuers made contact with some survivors still trapped. One woman was pulled out alive and taken to hospital. Police have launched a manhunt for the owner.

Multi-agency teams continued search and rescue into the evening. They included the Kenya Red Cross and county emergency services and security forces. Excavators were deployed amid challenges from dense surroundings and crowds.

Authorities warned of the risk of a secondary collapse.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of construction standards in Nairobi. Many are questioning enforcement and the gap between announcements on taller buildings and real safety compliance in Eastleigh’s commercial heartland.

https://x.com/NelsonHavi/status/2113714872416346563

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