Abdulswamad Cracks Down on Building Owners After Ultimatum Expires

Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir on Friday, December 2, issued a statement notifying members of the public that his government will now enforce safety measures on developments that did not respond to his call on owners of illegal structures to remove them or brace for demolition.

Abdulswamad, in November 2022, warned that illegal structures in government estates would be brought down within 60 days.

In a statement released by the governor, he affirmed that non-compliant construction will be penalised and prosecuted according to the law. 

“It is also my humble appeal to construction workers to avoid working on sites that have been served with stop orders (Spray-Marked) to avoid the risk associated with working in such irregular projects,” he declared.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir addressing members of the press on November 18, 2022

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Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir

He urged professional consultants involved in development sites to work with his administration to ensure the certified buildings are safe.

To ensure accountability in the whole process, the county chief intimated that his administration will publish a list of all the building inspectors for the members of the public to peruse.

"For this enforcement exercise and to avoid impersonation of the building inspectors, we will publish a list of all the building inspectors for the members of the public to peruse," he declared.

"Any form of bribery will not be tolerated and the inspection will be thorough and continuous," he added.

Governor Abdulswamad's statement came in the backdrop of his suspension of the construction of 162 buildings in the county over safety concerns following recommendations by the task force established in September 2022. 

Several incidents depicting the rot in the construction sector where contractors disregard safety standards posing risks to innocent public members were flagged by the task force.

"There are sixty-two buildings that have violated the terms of the approvals that were issued and have built extended floors," the governor stated.

On November 23, the governor issued a seven-day ultimatum to unscrupulous contractors involved in non-compliant buildings to apply for development permission. 

"The building audit task force has found serious violations regarding building construction without necessary permits or in contravention of the conditions of approval," read part of the notice.

A collage of the building that collapsed in Tassia, Embakasi on Monday, November 7, 2022.jpg

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Ali Manzu