Government Spokesperson Charles Owino Wahong’o
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya — Rescue teams have searched half of the debris at the site of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, with two people rescued alive and taken to hospital as investigators probe questions surrounding the building’s approvals.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino Wahong’o said the rescue operation was continuing following the collapse on 9th Street, First Avenue, with rescuers having cleared about 50 per cent of the debris by Monday, October 26, 2026.
The two survivors, a man and a woman, were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment, according to the government spokesperson.
Meanwhile, questions over whether the building had received the necessary approvals have been referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for investigation and possible prosecution.
Wahong’o, who addressed the issue during a press briefing at Harambee House Annex in Nairobi, said the government appreciated the patience and support shown by the Eastleigh community as rescue efforts continued.
The collapse has placed renewed attention on the approval process for buildings and the need to establish whether the required procedures were followed. However, the government statement did not provide details of the building’s ownership, the number of people who may still be trapped or the expected duration of the rescue operation.
The DCI investigation is expected to examine the dispute over the approvals and determine whether any offences were committed.
The government has not announced a conclusion on the cause of the collapse, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Wahong’o also addressed other national issues during the briefing, including claims about changes to election-results livestreaming requirements, tree harvesting in the Aberdares ecosystem and the Ebola situation. He said Section 39 of the Elections Act, which provides for the management and transmission of election results, including livestreaming by the Independent Elec
