Editor's Review

NPS has issued an update on the ongoing search-and-rescue operation in Eastleigh, Nairobi, following the recovery of a second body from the rubble.

The National Police Service (NPS) has issued an update on the ongoing search-and-rescue operation in Eastleigh, Nairobi, following the recovery of a second body from the rubble.

In a statement on Tuesday, November 3, the NPS said the latest recovery involved a female victim whose body was retrieved from the site on Tuesday.

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"So far, a total of four survivors have been pulled alive from the rubble. Unfortunately, the multi-agency team retrieved a second female body from the site today, 3 November 2026," the statement read.

The police service also conveyed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased while wishing those injured in the incident a speedy recovery.

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"The National Police Service extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased and wishes the injured a quick and full recovery," the statement added.

The NPS further urged members of the public to avoid the affected area to give emergency responders sufficient space to continue the rescue and debris-clearing exercise.

"Members of the public are urged to keep away from the affected site to allow emergency responders, specialised equipment, and rescue personnel to continue the arduous task of clearing the remaining debris," the statement concluded.

File image of the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja

This development comes days after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja explained why the multi-storey building that collapsed in Eastleigh had no development approval, accusing the developer of proceeding with construction despite enforcement action by the county government.

In a statement on Sunday, October 25, Sakaja disputed claims that the development had been approved, saying a document being circulated to support the allegations was fake and had allegedly been used by the developer to obtain approval from the National Construction Authority (NCA).

"I have seen some people peddling a fake approval document alleging that the Eastleigh development was approved. It is telling that this is the same document that the Eastleigh developer used to get NCA approval. They allege that the development was approved in January of 2024. This is not true," he wrote.

Sakaja said the dates on the development application contradicted claims that the project had been approved earlier in 2024. 

He also clarified that approval to change the property's use did not amount to permission to undertake the construction.

"The application for development as shown below was made in November of 2024, it could not have been approved in February of the same year. Also, there is a difference between a change of user approval and a development approval," he added.

According to Sakaja, the developer had initially applied in August 2024 to change the property's use from residential to a combination of residential and commercial purposes. 

The county approved the change of user in October 2024, but did not grant development approval for the construction.

Sakaja maintained that the developer proceeded with the project without the required building approvals, despite repeated attempts by county officials to enforce compliance.

"Development approval has never been granted. The developer went on to build with impunity and without building approvals despite enforcement action by the county and arrests," he further said.

Sakaja said county officials had taken enforcement action against the developer several times, with the most recent incident occurring in July after the developer allegedly failed to comply with an enforcement order. 

He said the suspects were arrested but released on bail the same day.

"Enforcement action and arrests were made several times by the county officials and most recently in July after failing to comply with the enforcement order below. However, the suspects were released on a 50k bail at Kamukunji police on the very same day," he noted.

Sakaja also criticised the handling of cases involving alleged violations of county construction regulations, saying the county had repeatedly encountered difficulties pursuing prosecutions.