Governor Nassir orders demolition of faulty nine-storey building
In a notice to the public, Governor Abdhulswamad Nassir declared the building structurally unsound, adding that it poses an imminent risk to life and property.
The Mombasa City County Government has ordered the demolition of a nine-storey bilding that exhibited severe foundational compromise sparking evacuation of residents.
This was as a result of unapproved borehole drilling into the foundation, with ground floor columns collapsing by approximately three metress.
In a notice to the public, Governor Abdhulswamad Nassir declared the building structurally unsound, adding that it poses an imminent risk to life and property.
“A controlled demolition has been scheduled to avert a potential catastrophe. This is after a multisector Agency Team found a grave structural failure, as it was confirmed that the multi-storey building constructed on Plot No. XLVI/195/MI. It had a severe foundational compromise due to unapproved borehole drilling,” Nassir stated.
The governor ordered a mandatory evacuation, which he ordered that a 1.2 kilometre radius must be evacuated as per the international safety standards of explosive demolition.
He stated that the radius ranges from Digo Road to Hospital Road, Jomo Kenyatta Road to Mwembe Tayari to Kava Shibu Road, Faza Road to Kisauni Road, Tononoka Road to Muslim Road, and Tana Street to Wajir Road, stretching up to Solomon Castle Hotel and Ronald Ngala Road.
In the notice, the city governor noted that the oceanic extension of the radius will require full cooperation from all Beach Management Units operating in nearby waters.
The governor noted that the inner security cordon shall be manned by the Kenya Defense Forces, while a secondary perimeter will be enforced by the National Police Service and the County Inspectorate.
He further directed all traders within the marked zone to vacate by 2:00 pm today, adding that it is a non-negotiable safety requirement.
“The Nyali Bridge will be closed to all traffic for one hour before the scheduled demolition. We urge all commuters to adjust their travel plans accordingly. This precautionary measure is undertaken solely to safeguard lives and ensure a controlled and injury-free operation. All County emergency response staff currently on leave are hereby recalled with immediate effect,” the governor ordered.
Further, Nassir added that Port Reitz Hospital will be the designated primary emergency response center in the unlikely event of any injuries.
This is even as 124 patients from the Coast Referral Hospital, which is within a 1.2km radius, are being transferred to Port Reitz Hospital for their safety.
“Let us cooperate fully with the relevant authorities and ensure that we emerge from this operation without injury, without loss, and with renewed vigilance in how we build and inhabit our city,” Governor Nassir pleaded.
Confirming the demolition, Irshad Sumra, a spokesman for the developers, described the collapse of the building is unfortunate as they strictly adhered to all legal and regulatory requirements.
“We strictly adhered to the set guidelines, including obtaining full approvals from the Mombasa County Government, the National Construction Authority (NCA), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). Every stage of the project was carried out following the required documentation, permits, and compliance protocols,” he reaffirmed.
He added that the construction process was under continuous supervision as the Mombasa County Department of Planning and Housing conducted regular inspections of the site, reviewing the structural, architectural, and engineering works to ensure everything aligned with approved plans and construction codes.
“We went above and beyond the prescribed standards. For example, we upgraded to D25 from D20, providing enhanced strength and greater resistance to stress in critical load-bearing areas of the superstructure,” he added.
Sumra stated that they remain committed to standing strong, learning from the experience, and upholding their responsibility as developers dedicated to safety, integrity, and transparency.
The demolition order by Governor Nassir comes a few days after he directed that investigations to be conducted into the incident after the affected building developed cracks before one floor sank.
