Rescue operations at the collapsed Eastleigh building ended after 15 days.
Rescue teams recovered eight bodies and searched every basement compartment, while police will take over the three outstanding missing-person cases.
Rescue teams ended the Eastleigh building search on November 6 after 15 days, with three people still missing. They recovered eight bodies from the collapsed 18-storey structure in Nairobi, including six women and two men.
Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said teams had reached every basement compartment before ending the operation. However, they could not locate the remaining three people initially reported missing.
The multi-agency operation involved the Kenya Defence Forces, National Youth Service and Nairobi City County Government. The National Disaster Management Unit, National Disaster Operations Centre and Kenya Red Cross also participated.
Officials described the operation as particularly difficult because of the building’s height and limited working space. They said it was the tallest structure to collapse in Kenya. Nearby residential communities also complicated rescue efforts.
Families await identification after Eastleigh building search
The eight recovered bodies are at City Mortuary, where families await DNA analysis to establish their identities before burial. Authorities said decomposition had made DNA sampling necessary for some bodies before relatives could identify and collect them.
Meanwhile, Nairobi City County has pledged to help affected families with burial arrangements, including mortuary costs and transport. Kenya Red Cross has also set up a support centre at the mortuary to guide families through identification and subsequent procedures.
Police will now take over the three outstanding cases as missing-person investigations and continue engaging relatives. Authorities therefore urged families with missing members to report their cases at police stations across Nairobi for follow-up.
Rescue teams said they had taken families to the site to show them the searched areas. They also assured relatives that teams had covered all accessible sections.
Police to secure site as safety checks take priority
With the search over, authorities will focus on securing the site and assessing nearby buildings. Police will maintain a cordon around the collapsed structure, working with the property owner to prevent access to dangerous sections.
Officials warned residents and onlookers to stay away because exposed steel, debris and unstable materials still pose risks. They also recommended fresh structural inspections of surrounding buildings to determine whether any damage requires repairs.
Roads partially blocked during the rescue operation should reopen once the area is safe. Businesses that closed during the exercise can then resume operations. Meanwhile, authorities said they would continue engaging affected families during DNA identification and police follow-up.
