Fort Jesus might collapse after contractor withdraws from building a sea wall

Reason Fort Jesus might collapse

Mark Mwithaga

February 14, 2019 10:26 AM

Fort Jesus on the verge of disaster

Fort Jesus in Mombasa

Kenya’s historic monument Fort Jesus could collapse after the contractor responsible for building a sea wall to protect the foundation of the structure, withdrew from the project.

Reports indicated that the Sh498 million sea wall project stalled after a feud between the contractor and the consultant from Copperk Consultant limited.

Construction of the sea wall at Fort Jesus ece-auto-gen

Sources within the Nation Museums of Kenya had stated that the building of the wall had been halted in December 2018 even though the government had paid an adequate amount of money that would have allowed the process to continue.

“This is the third month now and there is no sign of consensus between those working on the project.

“Water has now started getting through the temporary walls built to allow the smooth construction of the wall,” stated the source.

The erection of the wall was meant to prevent the erosion of the foundation by the Indian Ocean waters.

NMK had further explained that they had reclaimed a two-acre piece of land and used it to put up a temporary cofferdam to protect workers from the sea waters during the construction process.

The set-up cofferdam refers to a water tight enclosure that allows construction work below the waterline.

Joho storms construction site at Fort Jesus

In January last year, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho had stormed the construction site and ordered the process to be stopped.

Joho had stated that the process was going against the application made by NMK.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho Pulse Live Kenya

“Can you stop! This is not right. Why are you reclaiming the ocean instead of putting up a sea wall? This is not what you had applied for,” expressed Joho.

The governor further pointed out that the building of the wall had closed access to the ocean, which hindered people from using the public place.

Mark Mwithaga