Multi-Storey Building Collapses in Eastleigh

A multi-storey building collapsed along Yusuf Haji Avenue in Eastleigh, Nairobi, disrupting business activities and drawing hundreds of people to the scene.

In a statement on Friday, October 23, Kenya Red Cross said the incident occurred next to Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street.

The incident prompted most shops in the area to close as business activities came to a standstill.

Hundreds of people gathered at the scene to witness the incident, prompting a heavy police presence as officers moved to manage the surging crowd.

Police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd, sparking further chaos at the scene as authorities sought to control the situation.

The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that its response teams were heading to the scene to assist with the emergency response.

The organisation urged members of the public to keep away from the affected area to allow emergency personnel to operate safely.

"Kenya Red Cross response teams are en route to the scene. We urge the public to keep clear of the area to allow emergency teams to work safely," the statement read.

This comes days after four people were injured after a building collapsed during demolition along Moi Avenue in Nairobi CBD.

The structure, which Nairobi County officials say formerly housed Club Avenida, came down as workers were carrying out demolition at night. 

Preliminary reports indicate that the collapse overwhelmed workers at the site.

The building had reportedly been earmarked for demolition, though early accounts also described it as under construction.

Former Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Geoffrey Mosiria later put the number of injured at four.

He said the county wants the cause of the collapse established and called for a probe by its engineers.

"I call upon our county engineers to conduct a thorough investigation into this specific demolition to establish the cause of the collapse, determine whether qualified experts were involved to guide the demolition, and verify whether all the necessary demolition approvals had been obtained," he said.

Mosiria noted that the timing of the collapse limited the harm.

He turned his attention to the wider construction industry, urging developers to follow the rules.

"I appeal to all developers to strictly comply with county laws during construction and demolition and work closely with county engineers to ensure safety and protect lives," he added.