The government has withdrawn the military that had been deployed to help with the emergency demolition of a faulty building in Mombasa.
In a gazette notice dated May 9, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were sent back to the barracks after they completed the assignment of bringing down the seven-storey building.
The officers were deployed to help with the controlled demolition, the first of its kind in the country, of the building at Kilifi Corner in Fayaz Estate, along Abdel Nasser Road. The decision to bring it down was reached on April 2, after the building started sinking.
''Pursuant to section 34 (3) (a) of the Kenya Defense Forces Act, notice is given that on the 9th April 2025, the Kenya Defence Forces discontinued its deployment in the responses to the emergency at the eleven-storeyed building situated at Kilifi Corner Fayaz Estate along Abdel Nasser Road, Mombasa County, that began sinking on 2nd April, 2025, endangering adjacent residential and commercial buildings,'' the notice by Tuya read in part.
The demolition, which occurred on Wednesday, April 9, was necessitated by fears that the building would collapse and cause losses of life and property. The government moved in to bring down the building in response to residents' fears of the losses they would incur if it came tumbling down. They feared for their lives and property.
Area Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir announced that the building's foundation had been severely compromised, citing unapproved borehole drilling into the foundation. The governor also noted that the ground floor columns of the building had collapsed by approximately three meters.
Those living near the building were ordered to immediately move out ahead of the demolition in a multi-agency operation when Tuya announced the deployment of KDF personnel.
The KDF officers worked jointly with officers from the National Police Service (NPS) to ensure the safety of the residents and their properties during the process.
Tuya, while making the announcement, defended the move, stating that it was in line with the law, citing Sections 31 (1) (a), (c), and 34 (2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, which outlines KDF's cooperation with other authorities and the process of deploying military officers.
Further, vehicle owners within Mombasa Island were urged to park at Mama Ngina and Ronald Ngala Grounds to avoid damage to windscreens.
According to Article 241(3)(c) of the Constitution and sections 31 and 33 of the Kenya Defence Forces Act (2012), KDF may be deployed during emergencies such as natural disasters or pandemics without prior approval, provided the deployment is reported to Parliament.
However, according to Section 34(3)(a) of the KDF Act, once a deployment has concluded or is deemed no longer necessary, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence is required to issue a notice in the Kenya Gazette formally discontinuing the deployment.
