Cytonn Sues Nairobi County Government For Halting Construction Of Cytonn Towers At Kilimani

Cytonn taken to court to protest Nairobi City County’s move to cancel an approval for the construction of a 35-storey tower in Nairobi’s Kilimani area. 

The county government cancelled the permit of construction on April 30 following opposition by residents.

The real estate firm argues that the county government has no authority to cancel an approval once it has granted it, adding that the decision was taken without any notice.

The county, on its part, said that Cytonn had not shown how increased traffic caused by the development would be handled.

Cytonn is planning to build a triplex complex in the area whose tallest tower will be 35 floors at the junction of Elgeyo Marakwet and Argwings Kodhek roads, sitting on a four-acre piece of land.

“A declaration that the purported cancellation of the approval of the applicant plan…for domestic building-proposed mixed development (blocks of residential of residential apartments, hotel and serviced apartments and offices) by the letter of the respondent dated April, 30 2018 is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful,” says Cytonn in court papers.

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Cytonn says says that it addressed the issue of traffic by engaging with the residents of Kilimani.

The court papers show that Cytonn has consulted Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and shared its proposal to widen Argwings Kodhek Roads to address the traffic issue and the developer indicated that it will also share the cost of mitigating the increased traffic.

KURA reportedly indicated that expanding the Argwings Kodhek Roads is part of its long-term plan.

The approval was granted in July 2017. The project which is estimated to cost Ksh20 billion, inclusive of ksh1.5 billion price of land, is planned to have 30 floors of 174,139 square feet office and commercial space for rental, 180 hotel rooms, 160 serviced apartments, three-bedroom duplex apartments and penthouse suites, three basement parking floors with a capacity for 1,500 vehicles.

The tower, which is set to be among the tallest buildings in the area and will also feature Kenya’s highest suspended restaurant.

Additional Reporting: Nairobi News