Italian billionaire businessman Flavio Briatore has threatened to sell his properties in Malindi, Kilifi County if nothing is done by the county about the garbage menace and general condition of the town.
The former Formula 1 supremo is the owner of Billionaires Resort in Malindi where he is currently enjoying his holiday.
He stated that it was the responsibility of the Governor Amason Kingi-led government to improve the state of the town, which he described as 'dirty and smelly'.
Briatore further decried the poor road network, noting that it was making other potential investors shift focus to other places.
"The town is very dirty and smelly and its roads have many potholes. Why isn't the county doing anything to attract tourists to the resort town which is a major tourist destination?" Briatore posed.
[caption caption="Flavio Briatore"]
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He noted that since he first invested in Malindi, nothing had been done to make the town more favourable to investors.
“We need confidence to attract investors. We came back to Malindi but nothing has changed. Roads have potholes, the town is still dirty.
"In another 10 years we will be forced to close shop or sell our properties," Briatore lamented.
He divulged that investors were shying away from the town due to the garbage menace, stating that they "get fed up after five minutes because of this".
Briatore also noted that not enough had been done to promote the hospitality sector in the larger Coast region, which was the backbone of the region's economy.
“Coast is a disaster. The roads are terrible... the big issue in Coast is hospitality... nobody wants to invest... we do not know what will happen in two years,” the billionaire stated.
[caption caption="An aerial view of Billionaires Resort in Malindi"]
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