The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has closed down Mara Ngeche Hotel in the Maasai Mara game reserve for non-compliance to environmental requirements.
Nema Chairman John Konchella also disclosed that four other tents within the camp were also discovered to have flouted Nema rules during the tour by Government officials.
The camp was thrust to the limelight after a video emerged showing its workers driving a pack of Wildebeest from their natural crossing on the Mara River.
The video which went viral on August 13 also showed the camp standing smack in the middle of the animals crossing.
The video attracted the ire of Kenyans online and offline, with Tourism Cabinet Secretary saying plans were underway to have the camp closed down.
Nagib Popat, the property’s director has reportedly obtained a court order against the closure.
The business has been in operation for 10 years now.
Nema said that the camp management was ordered to demolish structures encroaching into the riparian reserves of the Mara River.
It said that it will constitute an interagency team to audit all facilities in the Mara ecosystem in the next one month and all non-compliant facilities will be closed and prosecuted.
It will be seeking to solve the curious puzzle of whether the hotel is operating legally upon which recommendations of a possible relocation will be issued.
