Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir has issued updates on a person who lost his life before the demolition of an 11-storey building on Wednesday, April 9, in Mombasa.
In a speech on Thursday, April 10, the governor said the incident occurred before the demolition and was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
"Sadly, we have CCTV footage showing that a man, Yussuf Ali Abdi, was inside the building. Minutes after he entered, the building collapsed. His intention was to inspect the house with the aim of buying it," Nassir said.
Nassir explained that according to the footage, the man, Yussuf Ali Abdi, entered the building shortly before it collapsed. He is said to have been inspecting the property with the intention of buying it.
"The officer who opened the door will be questioned, and the Lands Department will also be asked to clear the area where Yussuf was last seen," Nassir added.
He raised concerns and thanked the police for controlling the residents who were taking videos and photos of the demolition process from a close distance, risking their lives.
He stated that the operation to bring down the dangerous structure was successful, with the help of several agencies.
"The demolition of the dangerous building was successfully completed yesterday. We thank the residents for their cooperation," he said.
Nassir also mentioned that his administration has made arrangements to ensure such operations can now be carried out around the clock.
He issued an executive order stating that if any resident has applied for an extension, it will be suspended, and the contractors must be certified by the National Construction Authority.
He added that investigations should be conducted into the contractor and those responsible for the demolished buildings, and they must be placed on compulsory leave.
Demolitions in Mombasa have been ongoing as the county government continues to remove structures that pose a danger to the public.
He also mentioned that the hospitals which were closed during the demolition process are currently being cleaned and will reopen on April 11.
