Nairobi Governor Confirms 18-Storey Building Collapse

An 18-storey building under construction collapsed on Friday afternoon along 9th Street in the Eastleigh district of Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja confirmed the incident, stating that rescue teams were on-site and efforts were underway to pump oxygen underground to reach potential survivors.

Bramwell Simiyu, the county's Disaster Chief Officer, noted that authorities could not confirm how many people were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Reports indicated illegal occupation on the lower floors prior to the building's official commissioning.

Omar Ahmed, coordinator of the Eastleigh traders' committee, mentioned that shops on the ground floor were operating and that the collapse occurred during a busy period as people were heading out for Friday prayers. Witnesses described distressing scenes, and anti-riot police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds blocking access to the site.

Governor Sakaja called for the national government to restore prosecutorial powers to county governors to better regulate construction standards.