Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir has alerted the residents on what they should expect once the 11-storey building is brought down following the controlled demolition exercise that is being led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The county boss, in a series of statements issued via his official social media accounts, said that a loud bang would be expected once the building goes down.
However, Nassir noted that there should be no cause for alarm or panic, as all necessary safety measures had been observed.
He further stated that dust was also expected to settle in a little over an hour after the bang, post-demolition.
“A loud bang is expected shortly as part of the controlled demolition exercise taking place on the island of Mombasa. There is no cause for alarm or panic as all necessary safety measures have been observed. Post-demolition, the dust is expected to settle in a little over an hour after the bang. Thank you for your cooperation,” Governor Nassir stated.
Governor Nassir on demolition
Governor Nassir had earlier described the situation as a ticking time bomb, insisting on the need to bring the building down.
“We cannot afford to wait. This is a ticking time bomb. Our priority is to secure lives and prevent any further disaster,” Governor Nassir stated.
“All people nearby will have to vacate. This will not affect your house, but the tremors will affect your ears if you are nearby. Those who will do the work will have protective gear,” Nassir added.
The said building started showing structural weaknesses earlier this week, with residents saying that some parts of it were caving in.
This prompted the county to intervene and declare the area a no-go zone.
KDF involvement
KDF has since explained their involvement in the demolition exercise, noting that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration contacted the military and requested their expertise in bringing down the building that was posing a danger to locals.
“The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has requested assistance from the KDF through the National Disaster Operation Center (NDOC) in the demolition of an eleven (11)- storey building within Mombasa County,” KDF stated.
The military also justified the move, noting that it was fulfilling its secondary constitutional mandate to assist civil authorities in times of emergency and national need.
The operation is expected to take nearly 8 hours, as residents living nearby have been asked to vacate their houses in the Majengo area to allow a safe operation.
Acting under the direction and authority of the lead civilian agencies, KDF personnel are set to provide logistical and engineering support during the demolition, including deployment of technical expertise to safely demolish the structure.
“The operation is being carried out in close coordination with the County Government of Mombasa, the National Police Service, and the National Youth Service (NYS), ensuring a collaborative approach for effective execution of the task.
“Relevant authorities have ensured that the affected individuals were previously notified and given adequate time to vacate the premises,” KDF noted.