In the wake of a fatal building collapse in Mombasa, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has suspended 20 high-rise construction projects linked to the contractor behind the ill-fated 11-storey structure that was demolished last week.
The governor, while addressing the media, stopped short of naming the contractor, despite mounting public and media pressure for transparency. He confirmed that the unnamed contractor will be held fully accountable for the death of a man who was trapped in the debris when the building caved in.
According to Governor Nassir, preliminary investigations revealed that substandard materials, including non-compliant steel, were used in the construction. “All projects under this contractor have been halted immediately. We will take firm action once the initial report on the quality of the steel bars is released,” he stated.
Experts reportedly spent four hours on-site collecting steel samples from the collapsed structure’s pillars. Nassir emphasized that the safety of Mombasa residents remains the administration’s top priority and that responsible parties will face the full force of the law.
“We must not let emotions cloud our judgment—but safety comes first, followed by accountability,” the governor added.
The Kenya Defence Forces carried out a controlled demolition of the unstable building, which had been sinking prior to the collapse. A wide-area evacuation was enforced as a precautionary measure. The body of one male victim was recovered from the rubble following the operation.
