EXPLAINED: Why KDF Has Been Deployed In Mombasa
Defence CS Soipan Tuya has ordered the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces soldiers to monitor Wednesday’s controlled destruction of a structurally deficient structure in Mombasa.
The nine-story structure will be demolished with a controlled explosion beginning at 8 a.m.
“Pursuant to Article 241 (3) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, read with sections 31 (1) (a), (c) and 34 (2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, notice is given that on the 7th April 2025, 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 a nine-storeyed building situated at Kilifi Corner, Fayaz Estate along Abdel Nasser Road, Mombasa county, that begun sinking on 2nd April 2025, endangering adjacent residential and commercial buildings,” Tuya’s notice dated April 7, 2025, reads.
— Hon. Soipan Tuya, E.G.H (@HonTuya) April 8, 2025
In a statement, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir stated that the decision to demolish the structure was made after a thorough review by a multisectoral agency team.
In the interest of public safety and to facilitate the smooth conclusion of the ongoing exercise, the County Government of Mombasa has ordered the temporary closure of all schools within the prescribed vicinity tomorrow.
— Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir (@A_S_Nassir) April 8, 2025
Vehicle owners residing within Mombasa Island are… pic.twitter.com/x1sWIJEn8G
This included 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 KDF.
He stated that the structure had substantial foundational damage due to illegal borehole drilling into the foundation, with ground floor columns collapsing by about three meters.
“The building has been declared structurally unsound and poses an imminent risk to life and property. In light of this, a controlled demolition has been scheduled to avert potential catastrophe,” Nassir said.
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CONTROLLED DEMOLITION OF A STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISED BUILDING ON PLOT NO. XLVI/195/MI pic.twitter.com/s7jxeIP0pl
— Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir (@A_S_Nassir) April 8, 2025
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS
As a precaution, he stated that 124 patients, including eight in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the neighboring Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, had been transferred to Utange and Port Reitz Hospitals.
He added another group of 380 patients was scheduled to be discharged on Tuesday.
Nassir stated that, in accordance with international safety regulations for explosive demolition, mandatory evacuation has also taken place in regions within a 1.2-kilometer radius of the site.
The radius extends 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.
As a non-negotiable safety requirement, all dealers within the defined zone were asked to leave by 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
“All affected residents must vacate their premises by 6 am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. The demolition will proceed at 8 am,” Nassir said.
Furthermore, as a safety precaution, the governor has announced that the Nyali Bridge will be closed to all traffic for one hour ahead to the scheduled destruction, and commuters are advised to adapt their travel arrangements accordingly.
Nassir stated that the KDF will man the inner security cordon, while the National Police Service and the County Inspectorate will maintain a secondary boundary.
LIVE: MULTI-AGENCY TEAM UPDATES ON THE STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE PWANI ROAD BUILDING https://t.co/ksdBjqWAs5
— Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir (@A_S_Nassir) April 8, 2025
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“All county emergency response staff currently on leave are hereby recalled with immediate effect,” Nassir said and directed sub county administrators and Community Health Promoters to carry out household-level sensitisation to ensure full compliance.
He stated that Port Reitz Hospital has been designated as the major emergency response centre in the unlikely case of an injury, with ambulances from the county government, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Red Cross on standby.
“Following the successful demolition, clearing of debris and restoration of the surrounding area will commence under civilian oversight once the military declares the site safe,” Nassir said as he called for full public cooperation.
“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.”
EXPLAINED: Why KDF Has Been Deployed In Mombasa
