A private company is seeking the demolition of a five-star hotel in Mombasa after its directors claimed ownership of part of the land the hotel sits on in Shanzu. Shaanas Boutique Ltd says it was given the first grant to the land in 1987 but fraudsters allegedly acting with some government officials among them top police officers and Ministry of Land officials grabbed it and illegally acquired title deed.
One of the directors of the company, Paresh Malde, said the property has illegally been transferred to four entities and their efforts to have their land back have not borne fruit. In an elaborate scheme to grab the land, the fraudsters without our knowledge on July 26, 2001 surrendered back the new grant C.R 18467 to the government for nothing.
Since then, the property has illegally been transferred to four entities, the latest entity to illegally claim ownership of the land is Pride Inn Hotel and Investment
Malde said they have been fighting to get back their land and have moved to almost every government office mandated to investigate, prosecute and address matters concerning land (the Inspector General of Police, ODPP, EACC, NLC, National Assembly, Lands Ministry and Roads Ministry) to no help.
On November 3, 2015, the suspended NLC Chairman Mohammad Swazuri wrote to the Chief Land Registrar, Ministry of Lands asking for the cancellation of the title deed issued to Pride Inn Hotel and Investment Ltd and issue Shaanas Boutique Ltd with the same as the original owner.
Swazuri had also ordered for the repossession of a public access road that was amalgamated with the disputed land.
In a rejoinder, Pride Inn Group managing director Hasnain Noorani said all legal requirements were followed in acquisition of the land from Diamond Trust Bank, including the accompanying documentation.
On the issue of grabbing beach access road, Noorani said he was not aware that the hotel had encroached on the public road leading to the sea. He claimed that Pride Inn Hotel and Investment Limited has used the land as security to secure Sh2 billion at the Diamond Trust Bank.
Shaanas has asked ODPP and EACC to intervene on the matter and bring to book all who were involved in the alleged land grabbing and illegal transfers of the property.
