Kikambala rewriting her story after Paradise Hotel terror attack

Kikambala in Kilifi County is attracting property developers in droves. The availability of land and good weather makes it perfect for building holiday and retirement homes. Remembered for the attacks that saw Paradise Hotel brought down by terrorists, Kikambala is leaving these memories behind and writing a new chapter.

Leo Qin site representative for Sultan Palace Beach Retreat taken on 25th September 2015. (PHOTO: WILBERFORCE OKWIRI/ STANDARD)

According to Erick Mwasa, a real estate agent in the area, the serene environment is attracting investors to the area. “Unlike congested and busy towns like Nyali, people now want to build apartments, resorts and holiday homes far from the hustle and bustle of business districts, where there is no noise from boda bodas, as is the case in Nyali and Bamburi,” says Erick.

“That is why developers like Vipingo Ridge and now Sultan Palace have invested in such areas, away from the main road,” he adds. Sultan Palace Beach Resort, an exclusive holiday resort located in Kikambala, Kilifi, is only a 15-minute drive north of Mtwapa.

The Sh5 billion project is under construction by Chinese real estate firm Sultan Palace Development Limited, and expected to be complete by December 2016.

The developer has transformed three quarry sites within a 43-acre piece of beachfront land, which was derelict for more than 30 years, into a residential area.

“Our target market includes both high-end and middle-class citizens,” says Sultan Palace Site Manager Leo Qin. “We recognise that you not only want a home that reflects your taste, your accomplishments and your style but also a place to enjoy your free time,” he adds.

The rush to Kikambala has had an effect on prices of land since many of those who buy land here are the very rich - some tourists and others Kenyans with thick wallets - who want a piece of the coastal land famed for its tourism potential.

Erick says acre plots are in high demand since many want to build homes that occupy large pieces of land. “An acre of land that touches the ocean, or beachfront land, now goes for between Sh25 million to 30 million, while plots on the Mombasa–Malindi highway go for between Sh15 million to 20 million,” Erick tells Home & Away.

He, however, advises buyers to be careful by doing proper searches to ensure plots belong to the people purporting to sell them. Many locals are selling the same piece of land twice.