Villa Rosa Kempinski is trivializing security threats the premises are facing following the completion of the Nairobi Expressway which passes very close and faces the hotel.
The luxury hotel is attracting international and regional delegates including presidents and celebrities but the construction of the expressway raises concerns given its proximity.
The road exposes the hotel to security threats that could scare away guests. Kempinski is arguing that its rooms, including a presidential suite are far from the road meaning safety and privacy of clients are still maintained.
The hotel’s director of sales Judy Matengo said the speed limit on expressway will not allow cars or people to slow down and pose any potential threat.
“The rooms are far and not very close to the road. The only thing close is the swimming which is open and we have started taking security measures and we are going to have bulletproof (glass) there… We respect our guests’ privacy,” Matengo said.
The hotel which had its presidential suite and the mini presidential suite fully booked prior to former President Kibaki’s burials also hosted the Democratic Republic of Congo delegation.
The Congolese were in the country to sign the East Africa Community treaty when they booked the facility whose presidential suite costs $15000 (Sh1.72 million) bed and breakfast.
Villa Rosa entered the Kenyan market in 2012 with the hotel located in Nairobi’s Westlands area and Olare luxury tented camp in Maasai Mara.
The road closure has affected Kempinski’s business after it interrupted water supply, electricity and internet.
Construction of the 27 Kilometer road which runs from Mlolongo to Westlands led to expensive cuts on fibre optic cables, pushing internet service providers (ISPs) to pass on the costs to consumers.
The destructions were against National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) conditions for the approval of the expressway’s construction.
NEMA instructed that relocation of utilities as water, sewer lines, fibre cables and power lines must be done with minimum disruption.
