Eastleigh building: Hope dwindles for trapped victims

For seven days, Lavender Juma has returned to the scene of a collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, clinging to the hope that her two cousins, who were working inside the structure when it came down, will be found.

But as rescue operations drag on, that hope is giving way to anguish, frustration and the growing fear that they may never come out alive.

Juma’s two cousins were plasterers working inside the building when it collapsed last Friday.

And since then, the family has been waiting for news, with each passing day bringing more questions than answers.

According to authorities, Lavender's cousins are among 16 people who are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

By Wednesday evening, the family was still holding on, despite the lack of a clear breakthrough in the search even as authorities say the operation is 80 per cent complete.

“We have been here since the building collapsed on Friday. I have two cousins who were inside when it came down. They were plasterers,” Lavender told The Standard.

She said relatives had repeatedly been asked to remain patient as rescuers worked to reach those believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

On Tuesday, their hopes were briefly raised when they were informed that a specialist had arrived at the scene and detected two people inside.

However, the family said it had yet to receive confirmation of their identities or any indication that they had been reached.

“Since that day, we have only been told to wait. Yesterday, we were told an expert had arrived and detected two people inside. But up to now, we have not been shown these people,” she expressed.

Lavender said the "slow pace" of the operation was taking a heavy emotional toll on families who have spent days waiting for news of their missing relatives.

“As we see it, the operation is dragging on. If today is Wednesday and they have still not been found, we are asking the government to make every effort to help us see our people,” she said.

The family was told on Wednesday that rescuers were still removing soil and debris before they could reach the trapped people.

But for Lavender, the delay has made it increasingly difficult to believe that her cousins could still be alive.

“I have little hope that they will be found alive because they have no water, no food, and even breathing must now be difficult,” she said.

Besides Lavender, The Standard observed a state of unease and anxiety among relatives of those missing as they waited at an erected tent near the site.

John Irungu said his family was also waiting anxiously for the recovery of his sister, Jacinta Jerry, and cousin, Lelia Wanjiku, who are believed to be trapped inside the collapsed building.

Irungu said the rescue operation appeared to be progressing too slowly, leaving relatives struggling to understand when they would receive answers about the fate of their loved ones.

“Every day we come here, we ask about our people. We were told that experts had been brought in from China and that they had detected people inside,” he said.

According to Irungu, the information given to the families about the number of people detected beneath the rubble had varied, further deepening their uncertainty.

He said rescuers had explained that debris and soil first needed to be cleared before they could safely proceed to where the victims were believed to be.

“We can see that the operation is moving slowly because the soil has to be removed carefully before they can reach anyone inside,” he said.

Despite their frustration, Irungu acknowledged that officials had been communicating with the families about the progress of the operation.

“The government is communicating with us. They tell us step by step what has been done each day,” he said.

However, the families want more direct engagement with government representatives who can explain the operation and help them understand what assistance is available.

Irungu appealed for representatives from the national and county governments to visit the scene, provide regular updates and explain how additional resources could support the rescue efforts.

“We want someone from the national government and the Governor’s office to come and explain what the government is doing and how we are being assisted,” he said.

He also called for additional support, including machinery and personnel, to help speed up the operation.

The relatives’ anguish comes as rescuers continue the difficult task of clearing debris from the collapsed structure, with families left waiting at the scene for any sign that their missing kin have been reached.

Authorities maintained that the rescue exercise is "progressing well," adding that the government has deployed more sophisticated technology and experts to help accelerate the mission. 

For Juma and Irungu, every update offers a brief reprieve from the uncertainty, but no reassurance that the people they came looking for will return home.

The families are demanding urgency, clearer communication and a sustained rescue effort, hoping that those still missing will be accounted for.