Italian billionaire is seeking to change the skyline and face of Malindi with a sh 23billion top class hotel.
Malindi is the place for its near-perfect weather condition and for being one of Kenya’s pristine white sandy beaches.
Over the time Malindi has proven to be a playground for the rich Italians, who frequently visit, not just to flaunt their cash but to quietly enjoy the sunshine within the privacy of their multimillion-dollar business enterprises.
Watamu has already earned the status of a Little Dubai feat, in its quest to host a Sh23 billion 61-floor luxury hotel and residential facility, which arguably will be one of the tallest crappers in Africa.
The hotel will sit on 2.4 acres of LR No. Gede/Kirepwe ‘B’/369 on Turtle Bay Road in Dabaso, Kilifi County.
The 370 metres “Palm Exotjca” hotel when complete, will be overlooking Watamu and Malindi Marine National Park.
It is designed by Rome-based architect Lorenzo Pagnini, the hotel will house luxury suites and a 24-hour casino.
According to the designer, the tower will also be home to a 270-bed hotel, shopping mall, and a nightclub. It will further have 180 serviced apartments, office suites, a conference centre, and restaurants. The proposed development will consist of a 61-storey building, two five-storey buildings to serve as parking and service buildings, and the auxiliary facilities to enable the project to operate optimally. The total construction area for the proposed project is 209,026 square metres.
The project is the brainchild of Giuseppe Moscarino, a Rome-based veterinarian and neurosurgeon. Others are the project’s CEO Oliver Nepomuceno, who splits his time between Europe, Africa, Asia and the US to preside over portfolio management for private clients, and Mr Pagnini, who doubles as the project’s lead architect.
The three heavy investors are working under a consortium of firms from south Africa, Switzerland and New York. They also enjoy the backing of an 89-year-old Italian billionaire Franco Rosso.
