This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
On August 17, 2018, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) made a decision that has left many questioning the agency's role in protecting the environment. NEMA allowed Deputy President William Ruto's Weston Hotel to extend its sister hotel's construction into the Indian Ocean, a move that has been met with criticism and concern.
The proposed extension was approved under the application number NEMA/EIA/PSR/6347, and it has been revealed that the environmental agency literally allowed the hotel to encroach on sea land. This decision has sparked allegations of land grabbing and environmental degradation.
Government authorities have since swung into action to inspect the construction of the hotel, following the arrest of Nation journalists who were covering the alleged land grabbing. The Mombasa County government and Nema have also been put on the spot for failing to act on sea reclamation near the hotel and complaints of blocking of a beach access road.
Four police officers have been guarding the site, operating in shifts of two. Weston Hotel, which made the application, is owned by Deputy President William Ruto, who has been on the spot for building it on land belonging to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
As the controversy surrounding the hotel's construction continues to unfold, the owners of Dolphin Hotel have been accused of flouting building regulations, and the Muslims for Human Rights group (MUHURI) has warned that it will seek court orders to stop the construction.
Published on August 17, 2018, this revelation has left many wondering about the true extent of NEMA's role in protecting the environment and ensuring that developers adhere to regulations.
