Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang Nyong’o has opposed the demolition of the Sunset hotel in order to construct a modern five-star facility in its place.
"We are hearing that the hotel is to be demolished and a new one built but we are saying not on our land or under my watch. Sunset must retain its heritage,” The standard quoted Governor Nyong'o.
“It beats logic that someone sitting in Nairobi is contemplating demolishing Sunset, valued at Sh300 million, without weighing the cost implications," he added.
Governor Nyong'o says the 40-year-old hotel, which is 95 per cent owned by the State, owes the county government Sh47 million in rates.
"The land on which the hotel is built is ours. Kisumu County has 5 per cent shareholding of the hotel and we were to be given more through transfer of assets," he said.
He said the Transition Authority whose mandate ended in 2016, never transferred the assets.
The County Chief said Sunset Hotel was one of the facilities listed for transfer to the county government by the Tourism Finance Corporation (TFC).
Sunset is one of the oldest tourism facilities in Western Kenya region. It was opened by former President Daniel arap Moi in the 1970s.