Property developers behind the iconic Pinnacle Towers, which was to host the 45-floor Hilton Upper Hill hotel have been directed to provide an environmental safety plan at the site or lose the land. – By Gerald Gekara.
The 14-day ultimatum to restore the foundation, was founded on numerous complains from surrounding buildings, which have been affected.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) urged its developer, Jabavu Village Limited, to take remedial measures or face prosecution, despite a pending ruling on the land dispute.
“The authority will also recommend the necessary remedial action to be undertaken by the government at the developer’s cost and repossession of the land in line with the conditions of the title,” said NCA executive director Maurice Akech in a notice.
The 300 Meter high sky scrapper was to host a 70 storey office block, apartments and mixed use developments, and was set to be the tallest building in Africa.
However, all hopes were dimmed when the project stalled in 2017. Owners of the disputed adjacent piece of land filed a lawsuit against The Pinnacle for trespass through debris and construction equipment.
Asubsequent court order barred the constructors from storing their machinery at an adjascent plot. The developer then proceeded with the project, until December 2018, when High Court judge Samson Okong’o declared that the directors of White Lotus were guilty of contempt of court.
Sub-contractors working in the area have since moved their machinery from the site, and scrubbed their company names from the disputed project.
