Alarm raised over threat to shoreline

The shoreline at the Malindi Marine Park, the only public beach in Malindi Town, is under threat of being swept away by sea water because of a wall being constructed by a private developer.

Twenty trees have already been washed away by the raging water after the wall disrupted its flow, forcing ocean waves to find their way to the public beach.

The marine reserve’s deputy senior warden, Mr Joseph Kavi, told journalists that the wall had also destroyed the breeding ground for sea turtles, a major tourist attraction in the resort town.

He said this had led to a fall in the number of visitors to the park.

He added that during the high tide, visitors can no longer walk along the beach since it has been sealed off by the developer.

“Turtles lay eggs where they were hatched. When they find a wall like this one, which they cannot climb, they will lay their eggs in the open sea. As a result, they will be swallowed by fish or destroyed by water,” Mr Kavi said.

The Billionaire Resort, owned by Italian tycoon Flavio Biatore, is where the wall is being built. It is so high that it blocks the public from accessing the beach.

Mr Said Shaib Hemed, a boat builder, said vessel owners have incurred losses running into millions of shillings since the water started rising three weeks ago.

He said three boats had been swept away by the water during the same period.

“Our boat yard has been destroyed. If this is not checked, our offices, including the Kenya Wildlife one, will all go down,” he added.

Mrs Caren, a tourist, said: “It’s a sad time for me as a tourist because I will no longer watch turtles lay their eggs again.”

When the Nation sought a comment from the Billionaire Resort general manager, a Mr Pierino, he said he had travelled out of the country.