The Ministry of Health has directed public health officers to step up inspections of buildings under construction and promptly report occupational safety hazards following the collapse of a building along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday, October 23.
In an update released on Saturday, October 24, the ministry emphasised the need for enhanced safety monitoring and enforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The ministry has also urged public health officers to identify occupational hazards at buildings under construction and report them promptly to help prevent similar incidents,” the update stated.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni revealed that disaster response protocols had been activated, with a 24-hour coordination desk established at the scene to facilitate and support rescue operations.
As of early Saturday, seven people were reported missing and feared trapped beneath the debris. The ministry said it was working alongside the Nairobi City County Government to support medical teams attending to victims and prepare for the possibility of rescuing survivors.
Medical personnel from referral hospitals have also been deployed to strengthen emergency response efforts, while health facilities near the site have been placed on standby to receive casualties.
Muthoni cautioned members of the public without the necessary medical expertise against interfering with rescue operations, urging them to await instructions from officials before offering assistance.
“Noting that there may be those keen on coming out to help, the ministry is asking unskilled medical personnel to keep off or wait to be directed on where to help to avoid further risks that may arise,” the ministry said.
The ministry has also partnered with the Kenya Red Cross to establish support stations offering medical assistance and psychosocial care to relatives gathered at the scene in search of information about their loved ones.
A separate desk has been set up to help families trace missing relatives, with authorities appealing for patience as rescue teams continue searching the rubble.
Members of the public have further been urged to keep a safe distance from the collapsed structure to avoid exposing themselves to additional risks and allow emergency responders to work without interference.
The safety advisory comes amid revelations by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja that the collapsed building had received a change-of-use approval in 2024, but the county had not approved the developer's application for a 15-storey building with a basement.
Sakaja disclosed that county planners raised concerns in November 2024 over the proposed establishment of shops in the basement and on the ground floor. An enforcement order was subsequently issued earlier in 2026.
Following the collapse, the governor confirmed that the county had forwarded relevant documents to the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to facilitate investigations into the incident.
The probe is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse and determine the responsibility of the professionals and public officials involved in the building's approval and construction.
Rescue teams drawn from multiple agencies remain at the scene, searching for those still unaccounted for as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
