Brother Sany, the most feared bulldozer in Nairobi descended on the Grand Manor Hotel in the wee hours of Thursday morning like a hungry lion.
At 5.42am, the roaring machine stormed the hitherto tranquil compound in Gigiri and started tearing down the concrete structure that had been frowned upon my neighbours, embassies, the UN and City Hall.
The demolition comes a day after a Nairobi court issued orders allowing the Nairobi City County government to bring down the property.
The court on Tuesday ruled that Mr Kumar’s hotel, which was yet to open its doors to clients, is a security threat to the adjacent UN offices.
Mr. Kumar came into the limelight a few months ago after he tried to bribe Nairobi governor Mike Sonko with sh. 1 million to stop the demolition of the building.
But even as the building went down, Kenyans have had different reactions. Some people wonder why the government moved so fast to demolish the hotel, yet nothing has been done on the Weston Hotel which is owned by DP William Ruto. Weston, just like Grand Manor, was declared a security risk to the adjacent Wilson’s Hotel.
Grand Manor hotel is being brought down quickly, but on the other hand Weston Hotel which Kenyans have being calling for the government to bring thing it down for ages is still standing aloft! such a shame .
— Antwan (@antwanizme) December 13, 2018
08:44 The Kenya Aviation Security Committee declared Weston Hotel a security threat to Wilson Airport long before the court ruled that Grand Manor Hotel does the same to UN Hqs. Gigiri. Why is it always spared? Impunity! via @MiteiRober
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) December 13, 2018
SANY: I will demolish you.
COURT: Grand Manor Hotel in Gigiri is a security threat.
ME: When the US embassy was bombed by Osama in 1998, adjacent was Co-operative Bank. Was the Bank a security threat?
CONCLUSION: This is impunity of the highest order, compensate the owner. pic.twitter.com/2wx6jPdrv4
— Cyprian Nyakundi Escobar (@CisNyakundi) December 13, 2018