KDF Successfully Demolishes 11-Storey Building in Mombasa Over Safety Fears
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on Wednesday carried out a successful controlled demolition of an 11-storey building in Mombasa, eliminating fears of a potential disaster after the structure was found to be dangerously compromised due to borehole drilling beneath its foundation.
The building, located off Abdel Nasser Road, was brought down using explosives precisely at 12:56 p.m. under the supervision of KDF engineers. The demolition went smoothly, with no reported casualties or damage to nearby buildings.
Once the dust settled and the site was declared safe, KDF officers climbed atop the rubble and broke into a celebratory song, singing “Igongwe, igongwe, aah igongwe!…kaskia raha kaskia raha,” accompanied by clapping, expressing relief and satisfaction over the successful operation.
The decision to demolish the building followed an assessment that revealed extensive foundational damage. On Tuesday, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir confirmed that unapproved borehole drilling had severely compromised the structure, causing ground floor columns to sink by about three metres.
“The building has been declared structurally unsound and poses an imminent risk to life and property. In light of this, a controlled demolition was necessary to prevent a catastrophe,” the governor stated.
The demolition was a multi-agency effort, involving the County Department of Lands, Urban Planning and Housing, the National Building Inspectorate, the County Security Team, the National Construction Authority, the State Department of Public Works, and the County Disaster Response Team.
To ensure public safety, a 1.2-kilometre radius around the site was evacuated. This included the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, whose patients were temporarily relocated to Utange and Port Reitz hospitals.
The evacuation zone extended 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, reaching up to Solomon Castle Hotel and Ronald Ngala Road.
KDF military engineers led the demolition process after hours of preparation. Explosives were strategically placed within the building’s structural pillars to ensure it collapsed inward upon detonation. Emergency response teams, including ambulances and firefighting units, were on standby throughout the operation.
As an additional safety measure, the busy Nyali Bridge was temporarily closed to all traffic prior to the demolition.
