On April 2, a nine-storey building near Coast General Hospital in Mombasa cracked and tilted, prompting an urgent response. Governor Abdulswamad Nassir rushed to Mombasa and led a high-stakes operation that involved the military, experts, and local officials. After ruling out crane demolition due to safety risks, the Kenya Defense Forces advised a controlled explosive demolition—the first of its kind in Kenya.
A 1.2km radius was evacuated, affecting over 60,000 people. Evacuation was a challenge, especially with residents who refused to leave. Massive coordination involved local leaders, police, county officials, and community health workers. The operation command center was set at Tononoka Hall. On April 9, after final checks and clearances, explosives brought down the building in seconds.
Despite initial panic and fear, the demolition was successful with no casualties, except for one person believed to have been trapped inside when the building tilted. His body was retrieved on April 13. Governor Nassir praised the precision and planning, noting this as a historic moment. The county has since suspended two officials and halted 20 other projects linked to the same professionals involved in the unsafe building.
