How Ole Tipis dashed push for 'Mbooni State Lodge'

Long before Kenya became independent, colonial administrators had a habit of retreating far away from the people to unwind. The bush safaris meant a party of civil servants retreating to an isolated government house where they would have fun away from the prying eyes of the natives.

One and a half decades after Kenya's independence, Mbooni MP Munyao sought to have one such getaway resort converted into a State Lodge where President Daniel Moi and his successors could relax after a grueling tour of Ukambani.

After scouting around, Munyao identified an old colonial building in Kiteta as a suitable place where Kenya's president could spend a night or two. But his hopes were dashed by Assistant Minister in the Office of the President Justus Ole Tipis who informed him the place could not be converted into a State Lodge.

"I am aware of the existence of the temporarily building at Kiteta which used to be a government rest house some years back until it went into disuse. Although the house is large, it has dilapidated so much that it is now considered uneconomical to renovate or maintain it."

Munyao, however, persisted arguing that since the land where it was situated was big enough, the government should build a house where ministers or senior civil servants could stay because there were no other hotels in the area.

An exasperated Tipis responded, "Surely, State Lodges are built for the convenience of our Head of State and a lot of factors are taken into account when locating a site for one."

He explained that in areas where there are no State lodges, the provincial commissioner or the district commissioner's official residences served the purpose.

"Therefore, there is no need of building a State Lodge in Mbooni," Tipis firmly neutered the debate.

The assistant minister was against the idea of civil servants mimicking their colonial masters who had designed the weekend getaways for those who wanted to get out of town and have an easy time somewhere in the bush.

According to the minister, Kenya was "out of that sort of thing" and civil servants were expected to serve the people with diligence.

The number of places where a Head of State can rest while on a countrywide tour has shrunk because the old system of administration has since been dismantled and Kenya no longer has provincial commissioners.

Under the current political dispensation, Kenya has eight State Lodges situated in Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Sagana, Kakamega, as well as little-known Rumuruti and Cherangany.