The County government of Machakos has shut down hotel Macha Be belonging to former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile in the recent crackdown on entities non-compliant to the public health by-laws in the county.
An official 3-paged document dated June 27, released by the Press Secretary and Communications Director of the county, Mutinda Mwanzia , shows that the hotel was closed down following its failure to comply with the public health and environmental standards set by the county.
Macha Be Hotel, which is located at the heart of Machakos town, was shut by the county's health and environmental experts who termed it as a "cholera time bomb".
"We are, however, saddened by the impunity being exhibited by some of the business owners, in particular, one Hon. Kalembe Ndile, the owner of the proprietor of an establishment Macha Be in Machakos town which our health and environmental experts believe may be a cholera time bomb," part of the document read.
The hotel was visited by a reinforcement team of both the county and national government officials on Wednesday.
The team discovered several "illegalities and malpractices" and requested the proprietor to comply with several demands which included providing a valid hygiene license, proper disposal of liquid waste and recycle pond to avoid breeding of disease-causing vectors.
The document noted that Kalembe had created an illegal stagnant water pond that was a breeding ground for malaria-causing mosquitoes.
It further listed six more provisions that the hotel's management had to comply with before they considered reopening the business.
The county communications director resolutely refuted claims linking the shutting down of the hotel to political reasons.
"This is nothing to do with politics but rather enforcement of by-laws passed by the county assembly. We have in the past one week been shutting down all entities that we believe are a threat to the health of our people," Mutinda Mwanzia responded while speaking to Kenyans.co.ke.
