Sumra on Mombasa condemned building: About Sh350 million has gone down the drain

The moment condemned 11-storey building in Mombasa went down on April 9, 2025/CHARLES MGHENYI

Former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra has claimed developers of the condemned 11-storey building in Mombasa demolished on Wednesday have incurred an estimated Sh350 million loss in uninsured loans.

Speaking moments after the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) supervised demolition of the building using explosives, Sumra was, however, grateful that loss of lives was averted despite the humongous dent in the developers' pockets.

"Around Sh300 million and Sh350 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 we have no bodies?"

The building located off Abdel Nasser Road was demolished by explosives at exactly 12.56 pm.

Authorities said the building exhibited severe foundational compromise due to unapproved borehole drilling into the foundation.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said on Tuesday the ground floor columns of the building had already collapsed by approximately three meters, posing a danger to those within the environs.

The decision to bring it down followed an assessment by a multi-agency team comprising the County Department of Lands, Urban Planning and Housing, the National Building Inspectorate, the County Security Team, the National Construction Authority, the State Department of Public Works and KDF.

Sumra said the developer followed all construction requirements and even went overboard to ensure the building's structural integrity was not compromised.

"When we were told to put concrete, of 600mm, we put 1,000mm. When we were told to put Y20, we put Y25 (steel beams). When we were told to put Y30, we put Y35."

The former MP said they have certificates from the concerned authorities which show they had applied for and been granted approval for vertical extension of the building by four more floors.

"So there should be no speculation (that the building was unapproved), so in case anybody wants this thing, we can make a file and produce it," he said, adding that he was not afraid to be arrested if it gets to that.

"Kama ni kushikwa niko tayari kushikwa, tutapambana bwana (If it''s about being arrested, I'm ready; we shall fight)."

Sumra, who said he was speaking on behalf of the developers, revealed that the building was scheduled to be opened in July or August this year.

"Ni mambo ya Mungu sasa (It's all now in God's hands)," he said.