High Court has approved the demolition of the Grand Manor Hotel in Gigiri owned by tycoon, Praful Kumar.
The hotel, the court ruled, poses a threat to the adjacent United Nations offices.
According to the Gigiri Village Association, the hotel was illegal and its construction was against security regulations and requirements of controlled development in the area.
“This proposed development will be a security risk as it will overlook the UN, American Embassy, Botswana High Commission and Moroccan Embassy. We believe it will infringe on our rights as residents to freedom of movement by causing massive traffic jams, pollution, noise and extra human traffic for a high end (Blue Zone as per Nairobi County) residential area,” said Gigiri Residents Association chairman David Awori back in 2017.
Kumar was in August arrested by EACC detectives as he tried to bribe Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko with Sh1 million to facilitate approval of the hotel which was then under construction.
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The County government had stopped the construction of the hotel on 16 August 2018.
He pleaded not guilty to three counts of bribery and was released on a Sh1 million bond or an alternative of Sh500,000 cash bail.
He was further directed to deposit his travel documents with the investigating officer. The businessman was also ordered not to leave the country without the consent of the court.
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