The government's National Environment Management Authority (Nema) says the building was built on riparian land, and was therefore unsafe.

BBC

Nema intends to demolish more than 4,000 buildings in Nairobi over the next two months.

This comes a day after the demolition of a Shell petrol station in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.

Lawyers for the mall's owners had opposed the demolition, but Nema pressed ahead with it, local media report.

Kenyans have been reacting to the demolishing on Twitter:

Saddique Shaban@SaddiqueShaban

 Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero should account for a few things that happened during this time. People made noise in 2014 when #SouthEnd Mall was being constructed. Kept mum. Today,  building is going down.

Evans Kidero ought to be held to account.

10:21 PM - Aug 7, 2018

Elijah Okemwa@elijah1334

 "Taj Mall"this should the next stop after southend mall......  fairness should reign... southend mall

10:40 PM - Aug 7, 2018