Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko has suspended construction and confirmed arrests of 15 Chinese workers working onsite at the Avic International Building which sits on 7.5 acre plot in Westlands along Waiyaki way next to Villa Rosa Kempinski.
The Governor broke the news on Facebook page saying,
“We wish to inform the general public especially people residing around Parklands, Westlands and Riverside that we have this morning stopped the construction of the Avic International building along the Waiyaki Way/ Chiromo road and arrested all the Chinese and Kenyan contractors on site for defying the county planning laws by encroaching on the famous Chiromo close public access which is a feeder road to Chiromo lane which feeds Chiromo road then Waiyaki way.”
Mr Sonko says the contractor was erecting the building on Chiromo Road illegally and without approval from NEMA and has also encroached on public land and road.
“The said AVIC International has even refused to do a public surrender on the property they acquired as provided for in the county laws. It is alleged they paid a substantial under table amount totaling to $2million equivalent to Ksh 200million in cash to the previous administration as protection fee.”
The contractors denied the charges and were released on Ksh 100,000 cash bail each. The case will be mentioned on September 4th 2018.
Avic International Building
The construction of the Sh9.6 billion project began in 2015 and is expected to be completed in 2020 if there are no delays. Construction has previously been stopped a few times times after Villa Rosa Kempinski went to court arguing that the project has interfered with its operation as the chinese developer failed to explain on how to deals with issues such as noise pollution, storm water drainage and air quality issues which arise during construction.
It will comprise a 43-level office tower; a 35-level hotel tower to be run by JW Marriott; and four apartment towers of 24 levels, 28 levels, 24 levels and 25 levels respectively. The complex will also double up as Avic’s Africa headquarters.
