Father, son die after wall collapses onto their house in Mombasa

On Sunday night, Ms Clemence Saru was at the Anointed Rock Ministry praying when she heard a loud bang.

Her heart raced as she walked out of the church to find out what had happened. Then she heard the cries of her husband and children calling for help.

Minutes later, the cries stopped. The silence confirmed her worst fears.

A perimeter wall belonging to Cevas Logistics, a container freight station, had collapsed onto her adjacent house in Cambodia village, Jomvu, killing her husband and their son as they slept at around 11:20pm. Their other child sustained injuries and was rushed to Mikindani Medical Hospital by neighbours.

Overcome with emotion, Ms Saru was unable to speak as relatives and neighbours gathered at the scene.

Mombasa County Police Commander Ms Stella Cherono confirmed that three people were in the house when the wall collapsed.

“The wall of Cevas Logistics Company collapsed and fell on an adjacent house occupied by three. The accident caused the death of two, a father and son, while the other son is undergoing treatment,” Ms Cherono said.

The tragedy has renewed concerns among residents living next to the container freight station, who say sections of its perimeter wall have collapsed several times in the past.

Residents said heavy rains at the Coast last week may have further weakened the wall. Mr Peter Ulinda, a neighbour, said he was asleep when he heard the bang.

“I ran out only to see my neighbour crying for help after the wall fell on his house. The mother was in church praying when the wall fell on her house, killing her husband and one child. It is so sad,” Mr Ulinda said.

He said neighbours rushed to rescue the victims and take them to hospital, but two had already died.

“The other child survived with broken limbs. He was rushed to the hospital. The police came three hours after we had done everything,” he said.

Mr Ulinda said residents had repeatedly raised concerns over the wall and claimed it had now collapsed for the fourth time.

“This is the fourth time this wall has fallen and we have never been compensated despite our people getting hurt. We have evidence. In the last incident, our neighbour was injured and to date he has never been the same,” he said.

The latest collapse also left Mr Ulinda homeless after the wall destroyed his house. He questioned how the wall was approved for construction and whether it had been properly inspected before it was built.

Mr Ulinda claimed the wall had insufficient columns, which he said made it vulnerable during heavy rains. Another resident, Ms Chenda Baya, said her son Edward Hamisi was injured when the wall collapsed last year but the family was never compensated.

“No one from the company helped me. I took him to the hospital and to date he is mentally disturbed. His life has never been the same,” she said.

The residents’ concerns come as the country braces for heavy rains associated with the El Niño phenomenon, raising fears about the safety of structures in areas already considered vulnerable to flooding and other weather-related risks.

Local leaders led by Beuta Mogaka called on the Mombasa County Government to inspect buildings and walls across the county to ensure they meet safety standards.

Mr Mogaka said the circumstances surrounding the collapse needed to be investigated and action taken against those responsible if wrongdoing was established.

“The wall lacked columns. Losing a life because of carelessness is bad. We want action taken. Life is precious. What happens to the villagers remaining? How safe are they? Where will they go?” he asked.

"Heads must roll" 

Human rights activist Mathias Shipeta also called for accountability, questioning whether construction regulations had been followed.

“Were the laws followed in the construction of this fence? Who will be held liable? Heads must roll. We want justice,” Mr Shipeta said.

Village elder Ms Sally Wawuda urged residents living close to the freight station to consider vacating the area because of what she described as an impending danger.

“We have lost two lives today, what about those remaining? We are not safe anymore, especially those living next to the fence. This is a clear warning. But we want justice,” she said.

The collapse also affected the nearby Anointed Rock Ministry, where part of the church wall was destroyed. Mr Amos Mwachuma, the church caretaker, said a section of the church wall cracked after the CFS wall fell on it.

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