NAIROBI, Kenya — In the chaotic aftermath of a building collapse in Eastleigh on Friday, 24 October 2026, a group of construction workers who narrowly escaped shared harrowing accounts of the moments leading up to the disaster.
Speaking to Citizen TV Kenya reporter Gatete Njoroge at the scene, the workers described noticing warning signs before making a desperate dash to safety.
One worker said they were still inside the structure when a cracked column caught their attention.
“We immediately got out to save ourselves and ran. Shortly afterwards, the building collapsed,” he said.
How many people were working at Eastleigh building when it collapsed?
The worker estimated that roughly 70 people had been working inside at the time.
Most managed to escape, but he expressed deep concern for colleagues who had been in the basement and for others who had not been seen since the structure came down.
Another worker described hearing an unsettling sound just before the building gave way.
Construction worker says Eastleigh building had cracks
“The building had developed cracks, so we had to run,” he said, adding that the resulting dust cloud engulfed the area instantly.
“There was so much dust that you could hardly see anything. Even if someone was standing right next to you, you needed a torch to see them clearly.”
He and some colleagues sustained minor injuries after debris reached them as they fled.
How many floors did Eastleigh building have?
A third worker, who had been plastering on one of the upper floors, said the crew had been at work since morning without any sign of trouble.
He noted that some colleagues had stepped out for lunch around midday, a routine break that may have spared them.
The building stood 18 floors tall and had a water tank on one of its upper levels, though the cause of the collapse had not been established at the time of reporting.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visits Eastleigh after building collapses
Among the senior officials who visited the scene were Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mahmud.
For the survivors, the ordeal extended beyond the physical danger. One worker said his phone, identification documents and clothing were all trapped inside the rubble.
“Even now, I am still shaken and struggling to process what happened,” he admitted.
