Tourists stranded as top Kwale hotel auctioned

KWALE, KENYA: Two tourists from Austria were among guests stranded after auctioneers struck at Kaskazi Beach Resort in Diani Kwale County on Monday evening.
Mr. Manfred Seeburger and Veronika Dillersberger who have visited the hotel twice every year since 1992 have cut short their three week holiday after being relocated to a nearby hotel.
Other 25 guests who were attending a conference at Kaskazi Beach Resort when the auctioneers descended on the property were left to proceed.
"I have never experienced such hotel in Diani. And now we are going to another hotel, it is not nice at all," said Seeburger as he packed his bags.
Veronika said that although the auction is bad for the hotel the action is good for the staff who might get justice over unpaid dues.
The staff (96) had taken the hotel to the Employment, Labor and Relation court in Mombasa after they failed to receive their salary arrears for about 15 months since last year.
According to the court papers, the hotel owes employees a total amount of Sh14,526,435.
James Kiroge of Jakimu Auctioneers in Mombasa who was at the hotel said that the firm was executing warrants of attachments issued by the court in civil suit number 504 2015.
"The court on 14th October 2015 ordered Kaskazi to pay employees backdated salaries amounting to Sh14,526,435," said Kiroge.
The case was brought by Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) on behalf of the employees.