Residents are opposing the construction of a mega hotel in Nairobi over what they say is breach of security and requirements of controlled development.
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The officials of Runda Association (RA) allege that the proposed 200-bed hotel and conference facility that Paddock Investments is developing in is in breach of security requirements.
The association chairman, Mr. Isaac Gitoho confirmed the reports and said that the proposed project is situated in a gated residential community of single dwelling homes inside Runda Estate and each house sits on approximate land of 0.5 acres and the developments are controlled.
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He further said that the proposed initiative is against zoning restrictions and is in breach of other applicable special conditions regulating the parent grant of Runda Estate.
“The amalgamation and change of user is against zoning restrictions and is in breach of other applicable special conditions regulating the parent grant of Runda Estate,” Mr. Gitoho said in a letter sent to Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, Nema director-general Geoffrey Wahungu and John Mwatu, the general manager, design and construction, at the Kenya Urban Roads Authority.
The letter confirms that the owner, Mr. Ahmed Jibril, who is the Foreign Affairs secretary Amina Mohammed’s brother, purchased 18 plots for which he sought amalgamation of (15 of the plots) and also sought change of user from residential to commercial comprising of hotel and hotel suites.
“This goes against all planning regulations, compromising of security of the neighbourhood and will contribute to ground water pollution and cause degradation of the Runda residential roads,” said Mr Gitoho.
Paddock Investments aims to erect the 200-bed hotel and a conference centre in the affluent area targeting business tourists and diplomats working in the neighbourhood such as the United Nations, the US and Canadian embassies.
The directors of Paddock Investments include Amina Mulik Ali, ARJ Capital Limited, Sudhir Jayantilal Patel and Billow A. Kerrow.
