Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir on Monday, April 21, 2025, confirmed the unfortunate incident where a bar built on top of a septic tank caved in.
In a statement, the Mombasa county boss explained that the structure located at the Bamburi Mwisho area of Kadzandani Ward collapsed on Sunday evening,, April 20, 2025.
According to Nassir, the county dispatched an emergency team immediately after receiving a distress call indicating that revellers were trapped.
As part of intervention measures, the county sought to find who authorised the building of the structure, and a preliminary investigation established that it was operating unlawfully.
“The County Government of Mombasa regrets to confirm that at approximately 17:10hrs yesterday, an incident occurred at a premises operating under the name Happy Annex Bar in the Bamburi Mwisho area of Kadzandani Ward,” the statement read in part.
“Upon receiving distress reports, our County Disaster Management teams responded to the scene by 17:30hrs. Preliminary assessments have established that the establishment in question was an unauthorized structure, operating without a valid trading permit, and was constructed atop a septic tank approximately 120 feet deep,” it added.
Rescue efforts
As part of the rescue efforts, Governor Nassir informed the public that the septic tank had been fully exhausted.
However, he indicated that two people are still missing, raising fears that they could be trapped inside the collapsed septic tank.
“The septic tank has since been fully exhausted by our technical teams from the Mombasa Water and Sanitation Company (MOWASSCO), as part of ongoing recovery efforts.
“Regrettably, two individuals remain missing and are feared to have been trapped. Our County Disaster Management teams remain on-site leading a coordinated recovery operation. The county government will continue to provide timely updates to the public as efforts progress,” Governor Nassir detailed.
Following the incident, Governor Nassir sounded a warning to coast residents against building unregulated structures.
“This unfortunate incident serves as a stark and urgent reminder of the critical importance of ensuring all developments are regularised through the County Department of Planning. We cannot compromise on safety, public order, or the rule of law when it comes to construction and business operations in our county.”