After four and a half hours of meticulous planning, Kenya
Defence Forces (KDF) officers on Wednesday afternoon successfully demolished a
condemned 11-storey building through a controlled detonation.
The building, located in the Kilifi area of Mvita Sub-County, was on the brink of collapse due to serious structural and foundational
defects.
A portion of the building had already sunk after an
unauthorized borehole was dug around its foundation.
On Tuesday afternoon, both national and county governments
announced that KDF would carry out the demolition using explosives — a decision
that sparked concern among residents, many of whom viewed the operation as
risky.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir had earlier stated that
the operation would take approximately eight hours to complete.
All residents living within a 1.2-kilometre radius were
ordered to vacate their homes, while businesses, schools, and hospitals in the
area were also closed for safety.
The Nyali Bridge, which links Mombasa Island to the North
Coast, was closed from 7:30am on both ends.
At around 1:30 pm police also closed Fidel Odinga Road in
Nyali.
A single, powerful blast was heard at approximately 1:55 pm,
and within seconds, the building crumbled — an operation that showcased KDF’s
precision and military expertise.
Governor Nassir had announced by 9am on Wednesday that KDF
officers were already on site and a command centre had been set up at Tononoka.
The blast had initially been delayed after authorities said
that some residents had not yet evacuated the area.
“By this morning, at least 90 percent of residents within
Tononoka Ward had vacated their homes. Police and other authorities are
conducting a door-to-door operation to ensure complete evacuation,” Nassir
said.
He added that the area is home to approximately 60,000
people.
More than 289 patients who had been admitted at the Coast
General Teaching and Referral Hospital were also evacuated and transferred to
other county health facilities outside the Mvita area.
The bustling Markiti Market was also shut down, with no
trading allowed, as it falls within the restricted 1.2-kilometre radius.
