Hours after a condemned building in Mombasa County was brought down by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to avert danger, former Embakasi South Member of Parliament (MP) Irshad Sumra has revealed more details about the 11-storey structure that was sinking.
The building, located off Abdel Nasser Road, was brought down on Wednesday, April 9, at exactly 12:56 p.m. using controlled explosives.
This followed a directive from the Mombasa County government, which flagged the structure for exhibiting severe foundational compromise allegedly caused by unapproved borehole drilling into the foundation.
Authorities said the demolition was carried out in the interest of public safety and preservation of human life.
Speaking shortly after the building came down, former MP Sumra claimed that the developers had suffered an estimated loss of between Ksh300 million and Ksh350 million in uninsured loans.
Irshad Sumra reveals details of demolished building
Despite the financial loss, the former MP—who stated he was speaking on behalf of the developers—expressed gratitude that no lives were lost in the incident.
“Between Ksh300 million and Ksh350 million—no insurance, nothing. But we are thankful to God. Buildings have been collapsing, and we retrieve bodies; shouldn’t we be thankful to God that we have no bodies this time?” he posed.
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According to Sumra, the building was nearing completion and was scheduled to launch in July or August this year.
He insisted that the developer had complied with all construction requirements and had taken additional steps to ensure the building’s structural integrity. He also revealed that the developers had received the necessary certificates and approvals, including permission for a vertical extension of four additional floors.
“There should be no speculation that the building was unapproved. If needed, we can compile and present all the documents. Kama ni kushikwa, niko tayari kushikwa. Tutapambana bwana (If it’s about being arrested, I’m ready for it—we’ll face it head-on),” he said.
“I don’t want threats from any government institution. This was not a case of structural inadequacy but rather an unforeseen geotechnical shift—an act of God—beyond human foresight and control.”
On Tuesday, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said that the building’s ground floor columns had already sunk by approximately three meters, posing an imminent danger to nearby residents and businesses.
Mombasa County government takes action
In response, the county government has suspended inspectors associated with the project and announced that Coast General Hospital, which was temporarily closed, will reopen on Friday.
Acting Secretary of the National Building Inspectorate, Architect Lawrence Gitau, said, “The building was initially approved for six floors but later extended to eleven. Construction activities continued without the supervision of an engineer. After completion, a soak pit was dug within the building, further compromising the foundation and soil integrity.”
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Governor Abdulswamad has since established a task force to investigate the circumstances leading to the demolition, with a mandate to submit its recommendations within two weeks.
Additionally, all approvals for building extensions in Mombasa County have been suspended pending a thorough verification process.
“The contractor, engineer, and architect involved in this and any other related works in Mombasa stand suspended. All county government building inspectors who were entrusted with oversight have been sent on compulsory leave pending confirmation that their approvals align with the actual conditions on the ground,” the governor stated.
