All Coast beach encroachments to be crushed, says CS Balala

A section of the former Dolphine Beach Hotel which is under construction by a new developer along the beach front in Shanzu, August 17, 2018. [Gideon Maundu/Standard]

All buildings encroaching on beaches will be brought down, Tourism Cabinet Secretary has said.

According to CS Najib Balala, the demolition of illegal buildings that started in Nairobi would soon extend to the Coast.

Mr Balala's statement comes amid reports that the construction of a disputed beach property in Mombasa was started without approvals for its architectural design.

He said the regulation barring construction less than 30 metres from water bodies will be enforced and appealed to residents to be vigilant.

A section of former Dolphine Beach Hotel which is still under construction. [Gideon Maundu/Standard]

The CS gave no indication of when the demolitions would begin. He spoke on the day that reports said a hotel under construction in Shanzu, Mombasa, had encroached on a public beach and blocked access.

Balala warned that no one would be spared in the drive to reclaim grabbed beaches.

“Let those who have encroached know that we are coming for them, whether they have money or political connections,” said Balala.

He was briefing Governor Amason Kingi on a tourism regeneration plan for coastal counties.

The Tourism ministry, working with the county, has started a project to safeguard the Indian Ocean's waterfront starting at the Sabaki River delta up to the Vasco da Gama Pillar.

He said the project would be extended to other counties.