Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir has announced that the county government is deploying every necessary resource to help recover a body trapped in the rubble of a recently demolished 11-storey building on Abdel Nasser Road.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Friday, April 11, 2025, after visiting the victim’s family, Nassir said that specialised sniffer dogs from the Regional National Police Service have been called in to aid in the search and recovery efforts.
“This is an unimaginable pain, and as the County Government of Mombasa, we are deploying every resource necessary, including calling for specialised sniffer dogs from the Regional National Police Service to assist in the recovery of the body and ensure the family is able to lay their loved one to rest with dignity,” he said.
Nassir further pledged full support to the grieving family and vowed to continue efforts until the body is recovered and closure is achieved.
“We stand in heartfelt solidarity with the family affected by the tragic collapse incident involving the unsafe building on Abdel Nasser Road before we made the bold decision to effect a controlled demolition,” Nassir added.
“No loss is ever easy — but no family should face it without support. We are with you in this moment of sorrow, and we will not rest until closure is found.”
Demolished building
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) successfully demolished the structurally compromised building along Abdel Nasser Road using explosives at exactly 12:56 pm.
The demolition marked the end of a tense period during which local authorities warned of the imminent collapse of the building after a significant structural failure.
Despite the dramatic nature of the operation, no casualties were reported, and surrounding buildings remained undamaged as the high-rise crumbled to the ground in a controlled manner.
The 11-storey structure had been rendered unsafe due to the drilling of a borehole near its foundation, a development that caused severe compromise to the building’s structural integrity.
As part of the response, the governor confirmed that building inspectors involved in supervising the construction of the ill-fated building had been placed on compulsory leave pending the completion of the investigation.
“On the part of the county government, the building inspectors responsible for the supervision of works in this project have been sent on compulsory leave pending the outcome of the investigation. We owe it to the people of Mombasa to get to the bottom of this — and we will,” he revealed.