Seven people have been reported missing following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Kamukunji Sub-County, Nairobi, with multi-agency rescue teams working to locate those feared trapped in the rubble.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who visited the scene on Friday evening alongside Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, said 67 construction workers were at the site when the building collapsed.

According to Murkomen, 66 workers escaped uninjured, while one sustained injuries and was taken to hospital, where the victim is reported to be in stable condition.

The CS said 11 shops located on the ground floor and in the basement were occupied at the time of the incident, raising concerns about the safety of people who may have been inside the premises when the building came down.

Seven people have since been reported missing. Murkomen said the rescue team had managed to establish contact with some of them as efforts continued to reach those believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

A multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Red Cross and other government agencies is coordinating the search and rescue operation.

Murkomen said the government was providing the rescue teams with the necessary support to speed up the operation and enhance efforts to locate and rescue anyone still trapped.

He also appealed to members of the public whose relatives or loved ones remain unaccounted for to contact the Kenya Red Cross through its emergency response number, 1199, to help authorities establish the identities and whereabouts of those missing.

The government is also making arrangements to provide support to affected individuals and families, including psychosocial assistance, as the rescue operation continues.

Murkomen assured the public that the circumstances surrounding the building collapse would be thoroughly investigated by relevant national and county government agencies in collaboration with professional bodies.

He warned that anyone found responsible for the incident would be held accountable, although the cause of the collapse had not been established by the time of the statement.

The incident has renewed concerns over construction safety and compliance with building regulations, particularly in rapidly developing urban areas where multi-storey developments are increasingly common.

Murkomen expressed sympathy to families whose loved ones remain missing and wished the injured victim a quick recovery, as rescue teams continued working at the scene.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the search and rescue operation progresses and more information becomes available.