The Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Soipan Tuya, has officially gazetted the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to support emergency operations in Mombasa County following the alarming structural failure of an eleven-storey building that began sinking on April 2, 2025.
In a gazette notice dated April 7, CS Tuya stated that the multi-storey structure located at Plot No. XLVI/195/MI, off Abdel Nasser Road, Kilifi Comer, Fayaz Estate, poses an imminent threat to life and property. The building has reportedly sunk by approximately three meters, particularly at its ground floor columns, after unauthorized borehole drilling severely compromised its foundation.
The KDF was deployed under Article 241 (3)(h) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and relevant sections of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, to assist the Ministry of Interior and the County Government in implementing emergency safety protocols, including a controlled demolition of the affected structure.
“The building is deemed structurally unsound and presents an immediate danger to surrounding residential and commercial properties,” read part of the official notice.
The KDF will work alongside Kenya Police, Disaster Response Units, and local government teams to secure the area and carry out the demolition in a safe and coordinated manner
Preliminary investigations revealed that unauthorized borehole drilling had destabilized the foundation, leading to significant structural damage. Experts noted a sudden shift in the building’s support system, resulting in the partial collapse of critical columns.
Residents in neighboring buildings had to be evacuated, as engineers warned of possible domino effects if the unstable building were to collapse unexpected.
The Ministry of Defence and Mombasa County officials have urged calm among residents, assuring the public that every precaution is being taken to avoid casualties and further property damage. Authorities are also probing the approval process of the building, amid fears that regulatory oversight may have been bypassed.
This incident raises serious concerns about urban planning, rogue developers, and the enforcement of construction safety standards—particularly in Kenya’s rapidly growing urban centers.
