Former Embakasi South MP Irshad Ali Sumra has spoken out about the financial loss suffered after the demolition of the nine-storey building in Mombasa.
Speaking after the exercise, Sumra who is associated with the developer of the building, said the loss amounts to an estimated Ksh300 million to Ksh350 million.
He revealed that the plot owner had financed the construction from his own resources, adding that the entire investment was uninsured.
"The building was worth around Ksh300 million to Ksh350 million. There was no insurance, but luckily, no flat owner has been affected as the plot owner used his money to pay. He used his money but that was a loan which he needs to repay, so pray for him,” he said.
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Sumra confirmed that the decision to bring down the building was made in the interest of public safety, further expressing gratitude that it did not result in any disaster.
"Yes, we have lost Ksh300 million, but we thank God because money is not more important than people's lives. Buildings have fallen on people and killed them, but we thank God that did not happen here. We decided it was important just to demolish the building," he added.
The building which was located at Kilifi Corner in Fayaz Estate along Abdel Nasser Road, was safely demolished on Wednesday by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Prior to the operation, a 1.2-kilometer radius around the site was evacuated, including residents and patients from the nearby Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir confirmed that the ground floor columns had collapsed by approximately three meters, necessitating the demolition.
"The building has been declared structurally unsound and poses an imminent risk to life and property. In light of this, a controlled demolition has been scheduled to avert potential catastrophe," he said.
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