Demolition of condemned buildings begins in Mombasa

Motor Mart building on Moi Avenue in Mombasa which failed engineering and sanitation tests is among buildings earmarked for demolition by the county government. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Mombasa County government has begun demolishing buildings that have been declared unfit for human occupation.

Bulldozers were seen demolishing some buildings located along Moi Avenue on Msanifu-Kombo Road junction.

County Lands Minister Edward Nyale said the buildings are too old to be used as residential or business premise.

The tenants had been given a 30 days’ notice to vacate the marked buildings.

But as the demolitions were underway Friday, some tenants of  the condemned buildings obtained a court order restraining property owners from stopping them from accessing the premises.

“A temporary mandatory injunction order be and is hereby issued against the defendants, jointly and severally, from erecting, barricading or in any manner impeding or preventing the applicants from entering and or accessing their business premises and to remove the boarding and or barricades erected around the suit property,” the order said 

Mr Nyale however said the county is not aware of any new court order saying they are only in possession of an earlier order allowing them to cordon off the building after being condemned.

“What I know is that the court had issued orders to the effect that condemned buildings be cordoned off on safety issues. I am not aware of the new order unless we see it, read and interpret it,” he said.  

In December, one person died and five people were trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in Kaloleni, Mombasa.