An aerial view of the Billionaire Resort in Malindi. The wall is meant to safeguard his property after the ocean began eroding part of the resort. [Photo/ billionairetravel.ch]
Beach operators in Malindi have rejected the Kilifi County government’s decision to allow a resort build a wall along the beach neighbouring a marine park.The county’s Lands chief executive Charles Karisa had developed a draft plan on how the beach wall should be built according to a feasibility study done by county government experts.In a Thursday meeting held at Driftwood Beach resort, Karisa said the study showed Billionaire Beach resort put up an environmental-friendly wall to protect the hotel from sea erosion.“Our experts have carried out the study and have established a technique where the investor can extend the wall without destroying turtle nesting areas and the beach as a whole,” he told the press after the meeting.The wall was built by Italian billionaire Flavio Briatore in 2014 using imported material at a cost of Sh50 million. It was meant to safeguard his property after the ocean began eroding part of the resort.Karisa who showed Kenya Wild Life Service officials and lawyers a draft copy of the planned wall said technicians were unavailable to explain its efficiency.Beach operators chairman Twalib Ali said the wall’s construction will accelerate soil erosion at the beach and threaten sea life.“The wall has caused the sea waves to change direction and sweep away our boats, bringing down coconut trees at the beach,” he said.“How prepared are you when Tsunami comes to wreak havoc?”Beach operator Salim Ali said the wall’s construction was against marine conservation guidelines since it was built at a turtle and crab nesting zone.Philip Chai, the general manager of one of the investments owned by the Italian investor, however, said the wall technique has been used in other hotels along the Coast line.“The intention of the investor is just to protect his investment and he has nothing personal,” he said.“It is also within the law for one to protect his property from destruction,” he added.