Hood that is Nakuru’s new hospitality hub

Aerial view of Freehold Estate in Nakuru. (Photo:Boniface Thuku/Standard)

Sandwiched between Nakuru’s central business district (CBD) and the famous Lake Nakuru, well-known for its flamingos, Freehold Estate is slowly becoming a hospitality hub. Tourists who visit hotels in the estate enjoy a panoramic view of the pink “stained” edges of Lake Nakuru.

The estate has changed the face of Nakuru town with posh hotels, attracting investors who are pumping millions of shillings into the local economy and turning undeveloped plots into ultra-modern hotels and resorts, which are now sprouting like mushrooms.

Nakuru County Executive for Land and Physical Planning Rachel Maina, says that land in the estate is no longer freehold as the National Land Commission revoked holding of titles. But investors are not deterred by this.

Growth

The estate has also seen construction of modern apartments and supermarkets, with the latest entrant being Santas Supermarket located next to Kariba Road Primary School.

The latest entrant in the hotel industry is Jorika. Other hotels that are competing for business include Chester, Golden Palace, Abbey, Jams, Leopards, Hotel Genevive and Murius Guesthouse.

With Nakuru turning into a conference tourist town, competition among the hoteliers is very stiff.

The hotels are usually fully-booked whenever a major event is held in Nakuru, usually at the adjacent Afraha Stadium.

A spot check by Home and Away established that more investors have submitted plans to the Nakuru County Government planning department to put up new facilities.

Martin Karanja, an investor, says that in the next one year, he will put up one of the biggest resorts in the estate.

Nakuru County Executive for Trade, Industrialisation, Tourism and Wildlife Management Ann Njenga, says that the opening of hotels in the estate is a boost to the county’s tourism sector.

Support for investors

Njenga says that the government will support investors in Nakuru County to put up more hotels that will see any number of tourists who visit the town well-accommodated.

“The opening of the hotels in the estate is good, especially since they are affordable,” she says.

But as the estate continues to grow, challenges like the poor road network is affecting investors. If all roads were tarmacked the neighbourhood would be a real hospitality haven.

The hotels have created several casual and permanent job opportunities, leading to a decrease in unemployment among youths within the county.

“We are proud of what hotels are doing for our constituents as they have employed so many youths who would be jobless,” she says.