MOMBASA, Kenya, May 27 — A four-storey building condemned on May 12 collapsed Saturday hours after evacuation, authorities in Mombasa confirmed.
The building located near the Mackinnon Market (Marikiti) area in Mombasa County had been earmarked for demolition by the city inspectorate.
The county’s Lands and Housing Department had sent teams to enforce evacuation orders two hours before the condemned building caved in.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said he had received complaints from locals concerned with the safety of buildings in the Marikiti area.
The building inspectorate issued a two-week notice following an assessment tour.
“They were given a warning on May 12, but the tenants, the majority of whom are business persons, did not want to move out. This morning we sent a team to forcefully evict them,” said Nassir.
Defied notice
Governor Nassir said enforcement teams moved in to clear the building after a few tenants declined to honour the vacation notice that lapsed Saturday.
The team was led by Lands Executive Hussein Mohammed.
“I applaud the county officials who took swift action in enforcing compliance ultimately saving lives and averting what would have been a disaster. I am glad no one is hurt,” said Nassir.
The county chief vowed to enforce order in the city.
“You did the right thing, and you have my backing. In a place where people do not want to follow orders, you need to enforce them. If action had not been taken, we would have come to rescue injured persons or remove dead bodies right now,” he said.
The inspectorate had cited rain water damage as a factor that contributed to weakening the building’s structural integrity.
“The onset of the rainy season further puts this building at high risk and imminent collapse. While investigations continue, you are hereby requested to inform your tenants to vacate the premise with immediate effects,” reads a notice from the county government.
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