Iconic Sh 11 billion ($110 Million) Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill to mark Hilton Hotels & Resorts’ 50th Property in Africa. PHOTO/HILTON HOTELS
By OUR REPORTER
newsdesk@reporter.co.ke
The hearing of a case in which the developers of Hilton Hotels and Resorts’s planned tallest hotel in Africa have been sued for contempt starts has been set for December 19 at the Milimani Law Courts.
The matter was set to be heard today (December 14, 2017) before the new date was set by Justice Benard Mweresa Eboso of the Environment and Land Court at the Milimani Law Courts.
Registered trustees of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Saudi Arabia have sued Pelican Engineering and Construction Company Ltd together with Jabavu Village Ltd and WhiteLotus Projects Ltd-the firms behind the planned Sh 11 billion Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill for contempt for allegedly tresspassing in their property.
Through their lawyers Ochieng, Onyango, Kibet and Ohanga Advocates, registered trustees of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan aver that Jabavu Village Ltd and White Lotus Projects Ltd have forcefully and in breach of orders of preservation given by the court moved into the suit property, destroyed the existing fence, erected a new fence joining suit property to their adjacent property.
“If this honourable court does not intervene, there is a real risk and likehood that the suit property shall be wasted and irreparably damaged and the dignity, honour and authority of this honourable court brought to dispute,” the lawyers argue.
They add that a contempt of court application is by its own nature an urgent application since it concerns the promotion of the principles of the rule of law, observance and respect of due process of law and the preservation of an effective and impartial system of justice in order to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice by the court.
In October 2016, Hilton Hotels and Resorts announced that it had signed a management agreement with Jabavu Village Ltd to open a 255 guest-room and suite hotel in Kenya’s capital. The hotel is set to open in 2020 and joins 50 Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties trading or under development in 17 countries across Africa.
“In recent years Upper Hill has grown to become a hub for international businesses and organisations, with a number of embassies and organisations setting up their regional offices in the district, including Cisco Systems, World Bank and the IMF,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide. “The striking new-build property will pierce the skyline of Upper Hill and will be well placed to meet this growing demand in one of Nairobi’s most exciting and colourful areas.”
Kenya is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies with strong growth in agricultural, tourism, construction and telecommunication sectors. The country’s diversifying economy means it is a popular destination, busy with leisure and business travellers.
Mr Mahat Noor, Project Director of Jabavu Village Ltd, said, “Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill is our first project with Hilton and we are tremendously excited to be collaborating with them on this spectacular development. Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill and the larger mixed-use development, which will include a residential, retail and entertainment complex, as well as an adjacent office tower, will be Africa’s tallest building, standing at 330m.”
Co-developed by Jabavu Village and White Lotus Projects, Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill will comprise of an Executive Lounge and five food and beverage outlets, including a relaxing poolside bar, speciality smokehouse and grill restaurant, lobby dining area with landscaped deck and a boutique rooftop bar with unbeatable vista views of the Nairobi skyline on the 43rd level.
Business travellers will have a wide choice of professional facilities to choose from including a ballroom and meeting rooms of approximately 1400sqm. Guests will also have access to an outdoor pool and fitness and spa centres.
