The death toll from the collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, has risen to five following the recovery of two more bodies, while rescue teams work to retrieve another body spotted beneath the rubble. The latest discoveries were made during overnight search operations on Wednesday and Thursday, November 5, 2026, as multi-agency emergency response teams continued searching the wreckage of the collapsed structure.
Two bodies, identified as those of an adult woman and an adult man, were retrieved at approximately 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., respectively. Another body was spotted at around 6:30 a.m., with rescuers working to access the section where it was located. The latest developments come as the search-and-recovery operation enters its 14th day since the multi-storey building collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh on October 23, 2026.
According to reports, the building was still under construction at the time of the incident and had occupants on its basement and ground floors. Four people have so far been rescued alive from the wreckage, while several others remain unaccounted for following the disaster.
Rescue Teams Face Challenges Accessing Collapsed Building
The recovery operation has proved challenging, with emergency responders working through heavy concrete debris and unstable sections of the collapsed structure. Rescue teams have particularly focused on accessing the lower sections of the building, including the basement, where some of the missing individuals are believed to have been trapped.
Specialised equipment and heavy machinery have been deployed to help clear the rubble and create access routes for emergency personnel. The operation has also drawn attention from families of those reported missing, with relatives continuing to gather near the scene as they await information about their loved ones.
Families Asked to Assist With Identification
Following the recovery of the bodies, authorities are expected to conduct post-mortem examinations and identification procedures to establish the identities of the deceased. Families who suspect their relatives could be among those recovered have been urged to cooperate with the relevant authorities during the identification process, including DNA profiling where necessary. The process is expected to help establish the identities of the victims and provide answers to families who have spent days waiting for news.
Building Collapse Sparks Questions Over Safety Regulations
The Eastleigh tragedy has renewed concerns over building safety, construction approvals and enforcement of regulations governing developments in Nairobi. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called for stronger legal measures to empower county governments to take action against developers who violate construction standards.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate possible negligence, misconduct or omissions involving public officials, developers and construction professionals connected to the project. The investigations are expected to establish whether failures in planning, approval, construction supervision or enforcement of safety regulations contributed to the collapse. As the search enters its third week, rescue teams continue working to retrieve the remaining victims and account for everyone who may have been inside the building when it came down.
