Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers were visibly happy and full of excitement after they successfully demolished an 11-storey building in Mombasa County that had been declared unsafe.
The building, which had shown major structural damage including cracks in its foundation, was brought down on Wednesday afternoon through a controlled explosion led by military experts.
The demolition took nearly four hours to complete. During the operation, KDF officers were stationed inside the building’s compound to carry out the technical aspects of the detonation, while officers from the National Police Service (NPS) secured the surrounding area to keep the public safe and prevent any access.
Before the operation began, residents living nearby were advised to change their travel plans. Authorities ordered evacuations for safety reasons, and schools and hospitals in the area were temporarily shut down.
Even the Nyali Bridge, which connects Mombasa Island to the mainland, was closed from both directions starting at 7:00 am to ensure public safety.
After several hours, a powerful and carefully executed single blast was heard from a distance, signaling the successful demolition of the building.
Soon after the building came down, KDF officers broke into song and dance, singing loudly and clapping in celebration. One of the officers led the group in song, while others joined in with enthusiasm. Government officials and members of the public who were watching also observed the celebrations closely.
The soldiers later posed for a group photograph at the demolition site. At that point, journalists and officials from the Mombasa County Government were allowed access to document the aftermath and speak to the officers involved.
However, the demolition was briefly delayed after last-minute reports revealed that some residents had not yet moved to safety.
Police officers quickly stepped in to assist in evacuating the remaining residents, ensuring that everyone was out of harm’s way before the blast took place.
The deployment of KDF personnel to the site was officially announced on Tuesday, April 8, through a gazette notice by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.
The notice confirmed that military personnel would assist in managing the emergency response.
According to the statement from the Defence CS, the soldiers were sent to support the Ministry of Interior and National Administration as well as the Mombasa County Government in handling the dangerous situation.
“Pursuant to Article 241(3)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and in line with sections 31(1)(a), (c), and 34(2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, the KDF was officially deployed on April 7, 2025, to support the Ministry and County Government in dealing with an emergency at a collapsing 11-storey building located at Kilifi Corner, Fayaz Estate, along Abdel Nasser Road, Mombasa County,” read part of the notice.
CS Tuya added that the building had started sinking on April 2, 2025, posing a serious threat to nearby homes and businesses.
The military, in partnership with the police, was tasked with making sure the demolition was carried out safely and efficiently to protect lives and property.
The joint effort between military and police officers, along with support from other government agencies, marked a well-coordinated emergency response that ended with no reported injuries and a successful demolition.
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