4 people die as building collapses in Eastleigh

By Peter Ochieng 

Four people died after a building under construction collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi County on Saturday afternoon.

According to Nairobi County Police Commander Adamson Bungei, the four were among construction workers on site at the time of the tragedy. He said six others were injured, and rushed to various hospitals within the city.

“We have confirmed four deaths and there are six injuries so far. We are investigating the tragedy,” said Bungei. Rescue mission went on, even as the police boss said that all the people who were on site had been accounted for. The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Nairobi Region also confirmed death of four people.

“At least four workers succumbed to injuries after a building under construction collapsed in the Eastleigh area. The incident occurred along Muratina Road this afternoon as the workers were busy on-site,” said the society.

Red Cross confirmed calling off the operation, after eight casualties with serious injuries were evacuated and taken to the hospital. Nairobi and Kiambu counties are prone to collapse of buildings under construction.

According to a report published by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) in 2019, 33 buildings collapsed in Nairobi that year, followed by Kiambu at 14. Nakuru and Mombasa had 5 buildings each, while Meru, Vihiga, Busia, Lamu, Kilifi, Trans Nzoia, Taita Taveta, Nandi, Kitui and Machakos were the least affected with 1 collapsed building each. 

A National Construction Authority (NCA) report published in 2019 states that between 2009 and 2019, a total of 86 buildings valued at over Sh2.4 billion collapsed. The highest number was recorded in 2015 when 21 buildings collapsed.

An estimated 200 people lost their lives in the incidents. The government formed NCA in 2011 to try and guarantee quality management in the construction sector. NCA’s mandate is to coordinate, regulate and build the capacity of the construction industry.