Five seized over raid on hotel at centre of ownership row

Two Germans and three Kenyans, including a councillor, have been arrested in connection with the invasion of a hotel at the centre of an ownership row in Malindi District.

They were seized at Salama Beach Hotel in Watamu at 8pm on Monday.

Malindi police boss David Kerina said he received a call from the hotel owner, Mr Isaac Rodrot, that the hotel had been invaded by strangers.

“When we went there we found about 50 youths who had been hired to invade the hotel and we arrested five people as the group fled,” said Mr Kerina.

The invaders are said to have assaulted an employee, Mr George Aleka Okeyo, and damaged hotel property.

Mr Kerina said the motive of the raid was to effect the change of ownership at the 250-bed resort from Mr Rodrot to the Germans.

“They came and showed me the court order on Friday but I told them that I could not act on it until it was verified next week and I was ordered to effect it,” said Mr Kerina.

Effect order forcefully

The police boss said he was shocked when the Germans went ahead to effect the order forcefully without involving the police.

However, one of the Germans said the police dilly-dallied on the order so he decided to effect it because he owned the hotel.

The arrested councillor said he wanted to help the Germans take the hotel because it belonged to them and denied damaging property.

The hotel has had ownership controversy in the past. In 2005, a similar scenario arose but it was resolved amicably.

Mr Rodrot said the misunderstanding was because the Germans did not understand the truth of the matter.