The 11-storey building that was scheduled to be brought down in Mombasa has been successfully demolished in an Kenya Defense Forces-led (KDF) operation.
Videos circulating online show the building tumbling down with a loud thud, sending the birds around flying away.
The County Government of Mombasa, the National Police Service (NPS) and the National Youth Service (NYS) also took part in the operation.
Before the exercise, the county governor Abdulswamad Nassir alerted the citizens not to be alarmed by the loud bang from the demolition.
He also assured them that all will be complete in a while.
Nassir had defended his stance on demolishing the building stating that the situation was a ticking time bomb.
He flagged the building noting that it had started to show structural weaknesses that could lead to it collapsing.
“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,” he added.
KDF who were involved in the exercise expressed enthusiasm stating that it was fulfilling its secondary constitutional mandate by assisting in times of emergency and national need.