By Mandere Onyinkwa
The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and the National Police Service have launched investigations into the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors.
The building collapsed on Friday, October 23, 2026, along 9th Street, near Yusuf Haji Avenue, leaving people injured and property damaged.
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In an update issued on Saturday, the National Police Service said two survivors had been rescued and taken to hospital as a multi-agency team intensified search-and-rescue operations.
“So far, two survivors have been rescued and rushed to hospital,” said police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.
The operation involves the National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Red Cross and Nairobi City County emergency response teams, among other agencies.
Police urged members of the public to keep away from Yusuf Haji Avenue and 9th Street to allow heavy excavators, specialised canine units and rescue personnel to access the site without obstruction.
The service also asked families searching for missing relatives to report to the Kenya Red Cross desk at the scene or call the emergency response number 1199.
Meanwhile, EBK has opened formal investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the role of engineers involved in the project.
In a statement dated October 24, the regulator said it was seeking to establish whether professional standards, licensing requirements or engineering obligations had been breached.
“Any confirmed breach of professional standards, licensing requirements, or engineering obligations will attract firm regulatory action as per the law,” the Board said.
The investigations will examine compliance with approved designs and drawings, engineering standards, quality control procedures, safety requirements and professional supervision at the construction site.
The Board also called on stakeholders in the construction industry to adhere to the law and ensure that building projects meet the required engineering and safety standards.
The National Police Service said it had initiated a comprehensive investigation in collaboration with relevant professional bodies to establish the cause of the collapse and determine whether criminal liability arose.
“Any individual or entity found culpable of negligence or of violating building regulations will face the full force of the law,” the police statement said.
A manhunt has also been launched for the building’s owner and the contractor responsible for the site, according to the police.
The investigations by the police and EBK are expected to establish whether the collapse resulted from structural or construction failures, professional negligence, regulatory breaches or other factors.
EBK, the statutory body mandated to register and license engineers and engineering consulting firms and regulate engineering practice in Kenya, said it would work with other regulators to prevent similar incidents.
The latest developments come amid renewed scrutiny of building safety and enforcement of construction regulations following the Eastleigh disaster.
