A hotel owner has filed a lawsuit against the Homa Bay County government regarding the establishment of a fish factory that reportedly encroaches on his property, obstructing the hotel’s scenic view and its access to Lake Victoria.
The Homa Bay Tourist Hotel alleges in a lawsuit filed at the Environment and Land Court that the construction of the fish factory in Kanyada reflects inadequate planning, posing risks to the lakeshore area’s integrity and ecosystem.
The hotelier said the excavation and construction of the fish factory by the county administration, right on the shoreline, could end up disrupting the natural sedimentation cycle of the shoreline.
“I can authoritatively state that the 1st defendants (county government) construction of a fish market on the plaintiff’s lakefront parcel has the net effect of tampering with the pristine nature of the lake shore. it further alters the beach not just in terms of the form but also as a result of potential discharges.
The is with the high likelihood that the resultant sanitary situation in the fish market may be a threat to the public health and the surrounding environment,” Mr Maxwel Otieno Odongo, managing director of the hotel said in an affidavit filed in court.
Furthermore, Mr. Otieno expressed concern that the establishment of the fish factory could adversely impact his hotel business, especially considering his plans to transform it into a luxurious multimillion-dollar holiday destination.
The hotel owner disclosed that he had pursued funding amounting to KES 3 billion for the development of a 350-room hotel. The objective is to offer guests a spectacular view of Lake Victoria’s serene waters and beach directly from their rooms.
