Nema Seeks Public Views on Raila-Linked Sh515 Million Kilifi Luxury Hotel

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) is seeking public input on a proposed beachfront hotel in Mayungu, Kilifi County, which is backed by Kango Enterprises Ltd, a company with ties to ODM leader Raila Odinga. 

The hotel is said to consist of 14 blocks, including a presidential villa block, six apartment blocks, and six three-bedroom villa blocks. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study report, the presidential villa will have three bedrooms, a lounge, a dining room, a kitchen, and gazebos on the ground floor, while the first floor will feature a master ensuite, a lobby, a private lounge, and a dining room. The apartment blocks will have two and three-bedroom duplexes on the ground and first floors, as well as one-bedroom units on the second floor. 

The six three-bedroom villa blocks will have a lounge, a dining room, a kitchen, and a guest room on the ground floor, while the first floor will have a lobby and two bedrooms, as well as associated facilities and amenities. The construction of a new hotel by Kango Enterprises on a piece of land near the Indian Ocean coast has raised concerns about environmental damage, such as soil disruption, waste production, and habitat destruction. 

However, the company has proposed measures to mitigate the impact on the environment during the project's lifespan. The estimated cost of the hotel is Sh515,760,000. The land in question was the subject of a legal dispute between Kango Enterprises and John Presser Unsworth, a British citizen who has since passed away. On August 5, 2022, Justice Milicent Odeny ruled in favour of Kango Enterprises, requiring the defendant's relatives to vacate the land. A new land title deed will be granted to Kango Enterprises Limited, according to a gazette notice published on June 9. The hotel's proposed design features a jetty to enable sea excursions and promises to be a luxurious tourist destination.