Is the government right in demolishing high end multi-million buildings for allegedly going against set building and construction procedures?
After demolishing buildings like the Taj Mall and the Nakumatt Ukay,= the famous Sany bulldozer was again back at work this morning and this time it was at Gigiri with it’s main mission there being to demolish the Grand Manor hotel near the US Embassy.
The now familiar green Sany and other machinery descended on the building at 3 am amidst heavy security.
This is after the court on Tuesday ruled that the building is a security threat to the adjacent United Nations offices.
The move is a blow to businessman Praful Kumar who has been putting a spirited fight to save the property.
The court held City Hall’s argument that the hotel, being adjacent to United Nation offices, is a security threat.
Kumar hit the headlines after Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission detectives arrested him for bribery.
This was after the businessman attempted to bribe Governor Mike Sonko at his Kanamai residence in Kwale county.
He is said to have gone to meet Sonko with a Sh5 million offer to allow the hotels’ expansion before EACC officers were called in.
Kenyans on twitter have now questioned the government’s move to demolish high end buildings with some saying that the government can instead reposes the buildings by buying them even at a throw away price.
Seeing this beautiful Grand Manor hotel in Gigiri being destroyed I hate to say it but Ferdinand waititu was right. There is method to his madness! No way is bringing this building down a win for kenyans ??? pic.twitter.com/IJ8qvOJmDz
— ping pong #2⃣5⃣4⃣?? (@pauliddiali) December 13, 2018
if the hotel in Gigiri poses a security threat.. just because its a hotel … it could be used for other purposes or even it could b sold to the un itself ata ka ni throw away price.
— Martin Machua ? (@machua_martin) December 13, 2018
Grand Manor Hotel was SOMEONE ELSE project. You don’t come from nowhere like Mr Praful Kumar to own land in Gigiri and build such a hotel.
TUAMBIWE UKWELI
SANY welcome back
UNEP UN pic.twitter.com/lQqEG5ETOf— MWANANCHI (@Mwana_nchi) December 13, 2018
UPDATE: Demolition at the Grand Manor in Gigiri currently underway, day after court allowed the city hall to continue with the demolition. pic.twitter.com/lSkMnQXsrJ
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) December 13, 2018