Editor's Review

"I understand that he was inspecting the house for purposes of purchasing it."

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has confirmed the death of one man following the partial collapse of a building in Mombasa just days before its scheduled demolition.

Speaking on Thursday, April 10, Nassir identified the victim as Yusuf Ali Abdi who was reportedly inspecting the property when it collapsed.

“We have CCTV footage that showed a man who has since been identified as Yusuf Ali Abdi entering the building just minutes before it collapsed. I understand that he was inspecting the house for purposes of purchasing it," he said.

Following the incident, Nassir confirmed that investigations are underway to establish the full circumstances leading to Yusuf’s death.

Additionally, he noted that authorities are working to clear the debris at the scene where Yusuf was last seen.

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“As of now, we are expecting that the guard who opened the gate for him will be interrogated. The Ministry of Lands has also been instructed to clear the spot where Yusuf was last seen,” he added.

File image of Abdulswamad Nassir

The building which was located at Kilifi Corner in Fayaz Estate along Abdel Nasser Road, was safely demolished on Wednesday, April 9, 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.

Nassir stated 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.

Speaking on Wednesday, Embakasi South MP Irshad Ali 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.