The Ministry of Health has directed public health officers to actively monitor occupational hazards at buildings under construction and promptly report safety risks following the collapse of a building along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday, October 23.
In an update issued on Saturday, October 24, the ministry stressed the need for stronger oversight to help 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 said disaster response protocols had been activated following the incident, with a 24-hour desk now established at the site to coordinate and support rescue operations.
PS Mary Muthoni, a Kenya Red Cross official, a police officer and a KDF officer share updates at the site of the building collapse along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, October 24, 2026.
Photo
Ministry of Health
With seven people reported missing and feared trapped beneath the rubble as of early Saturday, the ministry said it was working with the Nairobi City County Government to support medical teams treating victims and prepare for those who may still be found alive.
Medical personnel from referral facilities have also been deployed to reinforce the response, while nearby health facilities have been placed on standby to handle emergencies.
Muthoni urged members of the public without relevant medical skills to stay away from the rescue operation or wait for official instructions 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.
In addition, the ministry, together with the Kenya Red Cross, has established stations to provide medical care and psychosocial support to relatives gathered at the scene seeking information about their loved ones.
A dedicated desk has also been set up to help families trace missing relatives, with authorities asking them to remain calm as rescue teams continue their work.
Members of the public have been advised to maintain a safe distance from the site to avoid exposing themselves to further danger.
The warning comes as Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has disclosed that while the property had received a change-of-use approval in 2024, the developer’s application for a 15-storey structure with a basement had not been approved by the county.
He noted that county planners had raised concerns in November 2024 about plans for shops in the basement and on the ground floor, while an enforcement order was issued earlier in 2026.
After the collapse, the governor said the county had forwarded documents to the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further investigations and to establish the responsibility of the professionals and officials involved.
Rescue teams from multiple agencies continue working at the site as investigations seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Search and rescue personnel work at the site of the building collapse along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, October 24, 2026.
Photo
Ministry of Health