Beach operators in Malindi Tuesday protested against Billionaire
Resort's move to extend a sea wall along a beach neighbouring a marine
park.
They demonstrated along Malindi Marine National
Park beach as contractors built the wall at the Billionaire beach amid
tight security.
Led by their vice-chairman, Mr Twalib
Ali, they said that the wall has accelerated sea erosion at the beach
and has become a threat to beach and sea life.
“The
wall has caused the sea waves to change direction and sweep away our
boats, felling down coconuts trees at the beach,” he said.
However,
Mr Philip Chai, the general manager of one of the investments owned by
Italian investor Flavio Briatore, said the project would proceed despite
the protest.
“We have all the documents authorising us
to proceed with the erection of the wall to safe guard the hotel from
sea erosion,” he told the Business Daily at the resort and barred
journalists from taking footage of the construction work threatening to
arrest them.
Cleared
His
sentiments were echoed by the Deputy County Commissioner Karung’o
Kamau, who said the resort had been cleared by Kenya Wildlife Serice
(KWS), the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and the
county government.
“We had invited representatives from
Billionaire beach resort and beach operators for a meeting to show them
the documents authoring the resort to proceed with the project,” he
told the Business Daily.
The wall was built by the
Italian billionaire Briatore three years ago using imported material at a
cost of Sh50 million in order to safeguard his property after the ocean
began eroding part of the resort.
Mr Salim Ali
Mohamed, a member of beach operators association told journalists that
the construction was against marine conservation guidelines since it was
done at a turtle nesting ground.
“Turtle nesting
grounds have been destroyed since the Billionaire Resort was constructed
on land belonging to the Malindi Marine Park,” he said.
Sea erosion
Mr
Mohamed said about 100 coconut and casuarina trees had already fallen
as a result of sea erosion caused by the erection of the wall after the
sea changed its currents to the marine park.
“Let KWS
tell us if Mr Flavio Briatore is more important than the environment so
that we can also join in destroying the Marine Park,” he said.
According
to Mr Mohamed, Billionaire Resort was constructed on the marine park
land where trees and bushes once stood, giving it a good nesting place
for turtles.
“The ocean pressure hitting the wall has
made the ocean pressure to change direction to the marine park beach
causing massive erosion at the seafront and felling down trees,” he
said.
slwanga@ke.nationmedia.com
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