NAIROBI, Kenya — Rescue teams have recovered a second female body from the rubble of the collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as multi-agency operations continue to search for people feared trapped beneath the debris.
The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed the recovery on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, bringing the number of bodies retrieved from the site to two. Four people have so far been rescued alive, according to the police.
In a statement shared on its official X account, the police said the multi-agency team recovered the body as emergency responders continued clearing debris from the collapsed structure.
“The National Police Service continues to fully support the ongoing search-and-rescue operation in Eastleigh, Nairobi, and wishes to update the public on its progress,” the service said.
“Unfortunately, the multi-agency team retrieved a second female body from the site today, 3 November 2026,” it added.
The latest recovery follows the discovery of the first female body on Friday, October 30, eight days after the building collapsed. The first victim was taken to Nairobi City Mortuary, where DNA testing was expected to help establish her identity.
Police urged members of the public to keep away from the affected site to allow emergency responders, specialised equipment and rescue personnel to continue clearing the remaining debris.
“The National Police Service extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased and wishes the injured a quick and full recovery,” the statement added.
The service said further updates would be issued as the operation progressed.
11 people feared trapped as rescue operation continues
The second recovery comes as emergency teams continue working to establish the whereabouts of people believed to have been inside the building when it collapsed on October 23.
On Monday, November 2, the Director of the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), Duncan Ochieng, said the number of people feared trapped had dropped from 16 to 11.
Ochieng explained that five people previously reported missing had been reunited with their families after authorities established that they were not at the disaster scene when the building came down.
He said the rescue operation had been slowed by limited working space around the collapsed structure and the need to protect neighbouring buildings that remained occupied.
“The operation will take longer due to the smaller size of the area, and the number of bulldozers present at the site is only two,” Ochieng said.
He explained that one machine was being used to spread and clear debris, while the other excavated the rubble in search of possible survivors or victims.
The operation was estimated to be approximately 85 per cent complete, although authorities cautioned that clearing the remaining debris required careful coordination.
The latest recovery of a second body does not, by itself, establish how many people remain unaccounted for. Authorities had reported 11 people feared trapped on Monday, but had not provided a revised figure following Tuesday’s discovery.
MP calls for parliamentary inquiry into rescue operation
Meanwhile, Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the disaster response, questioning the time taken to clear the collapsed structure and the emergency equipment deployed.
The legislator’s concerns come amid growing anxiety among families who have been waiting for information about relatives believed to have been trapped beneath the rubble.
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The building, which was under construction, collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh on Friday, October 23, triggering a multi-agency response involving police, disaster management teams, emergency responders and other agencies.
The disaster has also raised questions about construction safety, regulatory oversight and the enforcement of building standards in Nairobi.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse are ongoing, with authorities expected to establish whether the building complied with the required construction approvals and safety regulations.
For now, rescue teams remain at the site, working through the remaining debris as families await confirmation about their missing relatives.
