Unsafe 11-storey building in Mombasa to be demolished as evacuation begins
"Nyali Bridge will be closed to all traffic for one hour before the scheduled demolition. Commuters are advised to plan accordingly. All County emergency response personnel on leave have been recalled," said the county authorities
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers have been deployed to Mombasa to support emergency efforts after an 11-storey building at Kilifi Corner started sinking, putting nearby homes and businesses at risk.
Their deployment was made official through a special edition of the Kenya Gazette by Defence Cabinet Secretary and Chairperson of the Defence Council, Soipan Tuya on Tuesday.
It was authorised under Article 241(3)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and sections 31(1)(a), (c), and 34(2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act.
"The Kenya Defence Forces was deployed to assist the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the County Government of Mombasa in the emergency response towards an eleven storey building situation at Kilifi Corner, Fayaz Estate along Abdel Nasser Road, Mombasa County, begun sinking on 2nd April, 2025, endangering adjacent residential and commercial buildings,” read the gazette notice.
Meanwhile, businesses and residents near an unstable 11-storey building in Mombasa have been directed to evacuate ahead of a demolition set for Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The evacuation order, issued by Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir, came after cracks were observed on the building’s columns and the first floor caved in.
The building, located at Lighthouse in Kilifi Corner, had raised alarm when passersby noticed it swaying and alerted the authorities last week.
Emergency teams were quickly deployed to the area, and the building was declared unsafe.
The governor said the safety of the public was the main concern and that no one should be within a 1.2-kilometre radius of the site during the demolition exercise.
“People should not go to work within a 1.2 kilometre radius of the building. Everyone will have to vacate,” Nassir said.
The order affects several locations, including Marikiti, Bakstani, City Blue, and Jomo Kenyatta Road up to Nyali Bridge.
Residents heading to Mombasa CBD via Nyali Bridge are advised to cross before 7 am.
Notably, popular facilities such as Cityblue Creekside Hotel and Marikiti Market fall within the restricted zone.
Governor Nassir also announced that patients in critical condition at Makadara Hospital would be relocated to other facilities to avoid any complications from the scheduled demolition.
Residents living near the site were advised to leave their houses temporarily due to the risks associated with the controlled demolition, including noise and dust.
“The dust which will emanate from those demolitions also poses a health hazard, especially to young children, hence the need to vacate,” said the governor.
The demolition is scheduled to begin at 6 am on Wednesday and is expected to take eight hours. Authorities emphasized that no one should be in the vicinity during that time to ensure public safety.
Area residents were further warned against approaching the site after the demolition to scavenge for building materials.
The governor said such actions could lead to accidents and should be avoided completely.
Governor Nassir’s directive came just hours after his administration issued a stern warning to property developers in Mombasa.
He said developers who fail to follow building regulations and permit conditions risk having their approvals revoked.
In addition, developers were reminded to install site boards and ensure all safety protocols are strictly followed during construction activities.
The Mombasa County Government’s response to the building scare has drawn attention to safety enforcement in the city.
The governor maintained that the safety of residents would remain the top priority as demolition work begins.