Unlike his predecessors, Uhuru Kenyatta rode into State House in 2013 without a real home in the African sense - a rural hamlet with cows and goats and acres of space for a sport of telephone farming.
This, unlike his father Jomo Kenyatta, whose Ichaweri home in Gatundu South was part of national folklore, for the old man never lived at State House "because the ghosts of colonialists roamed all over the place". Instead, he commuted daily from his Gatundu home to State House.
Old Jomo, like many post-independent leaders, also had a residence in Mombasa, the warm coastal town where he increasingly spent more days as he advanced in age.
President Daniel arap Moi took over from Kenyatta, his name already synonymous with Kabarak, the expansive home where he spent most weekends and eventually lived in retirement.
Mwai Kibaki, also known as the Member for Othaya, was known to own a home in his constituency and Nairobi's affluent Muthaiga suburb. Even though the State build a multi-million shilling retirement home for him in Mweiga, Nyeri, County, he instead retreated to Muthaiga, where lived until his death in April.
Not Uhuru. When he was elected president, his abode was a residence opposite State House. And throughout his presidency, no photographs emerged of him shooting the breeze in a rustic rural home, or admiring his livestock like Ugandan and Rwandese Presidents, Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame. But then Uhuru, like Kibaki, is a City man.
Where will he retire? Ichaweri?
The Ichaweri house, in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, built by the British for Jomo Kenyatta, as compensation for confiscating his land after he was jailed, will be turned into a Presidential Museum when Uhuru hands over power to the country's fifth president this month.
According to Kenya Gazette notices 11053 and 11054 of 2019, published on November 22, 2019, the Ichaweri home will be opened to Kenyans, who will be able to access Kenyatta's history from when he was born until his death in 1978.
The homestead is located along Kenyatta Road with a unique V-shaped entrance. The Kenyatta family set aside part of the land for the presidential library and museum and Public Policy Institute which are complete. A new church has been built next to a mausoleum, which sources say will host the remains of Kenya's first leader.
The Nairobian could not, however, independently verify whether Jomo Kenyatta's remains will be moved from Parliament Buildings where they have been for the past 49 years.
Unlike the traditional practice where sitting presidents led the larger Kenyatta family in commemoration of the founding father's death at Parliament Buildings followed by a memorial service at the Holy Family Basilica each August, the family has quietly marked the last two commemorations at Ichaweri.
The previous State ritual was initiated by President Daniel arap Moi, who faithfully honoured the day with a church mass for 21 of his 24-year long reign. Third President Mwai Kibaki picked up the ritual and observed it religiously during his 10 years in power.
President Uhuru himself kept the faith for seven years, before signalling in 2019, that it would henceforth be a private family function.
"This is the last time we are commemorating the death of the founding father in this manner," he announced on August 22, 2019.
While it is not known whether the President has a home in Ichaweri, his childhood home remains a choice for a place he would hang out in his retirement.
Not that he is out of options. Perhaps, like his predecessor President Kibaki, he could opt to remain a city man and hole up in his current residence opposite State House, which was extensively renovated when he became President.
But if bitten by the village bug, he could head west to the expansive Gicheha Farm in Rongai, Nakuru County.
Gicheha was one of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's favourite hideways and the room from where he occasionally chaired Cabinet meetings has been preserved in its pristine condition to date.
In the run-up to the 2013 General Election, President Uhuru met with Kikuyu elders at the Gicheha Farm home as the Kalenjin elders held a similar meeting at Oloika Lodge in Kabarak area.
Uhuru has also held several private meetings with local elders and politicians at the home. If he chooses Gicheha Farm as his retirement home, he will have neighbours who are friends, among them Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who lives nearby at Kabarak. Other notables who live in the hood include COTU secretary General Francis Atwoli and former military, chiefs Daudi Tonje and David Opande.
The president, who is a fan of car racing, is also likely to enjoy the sport since the 4,000-acre farm, which has on several occasions hosted the Kenya Autocross series.
The heavily guarded property hosts thousands of cattle in various breeds including the Ankole from Uganda and Rwanda, Herefords, Brangus and Aberdeen Angus from South Africa. According to the residents, these developments suggest that the President could retire in Nakuru.
"A magnificent bungalow was constructed near the old house and new farm offices in the last two years. We are hopeful that he comes to Nakuru after polls," said a resident.
In the recent past, the various access routes to the farm have been murramed and part of the farm put under avocado cultivation. A factory to process the produce is also under construction.
Signs prohibiting photography have been posted on the fence adjoining the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
"Although there is limited access to the farm for the public, the President will not suffer boredom at Gicheha. He will have a lot to do, especially on rearing livestock," said the resident.
Former Molo MP Njenga Mungai says that he can't imagine a better place for President to be happier in retirement than at Gicheha Farm.
"The weather around Gicheha is very friendly. It is one of the best places he could live happily in his retirement, taking care of his flocks of cattle and sheep and growing wheat," said Njenga.
And should he choose to step out for an evening beer, his local would be at Salgaa, famed as a stopover for truckers!
