Inside Gachagua’s Luxury: 5 Elite Hotels Managed by His Family (Photos)
DP Rigathi Gachagua’s family has made significant investments in the hospitality sector.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended the purchase of Treetops Lodge, which reopened over the weekend after being shut down in 2021.
Established in 1932, this iconic hotel is renowned globally as the site where Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the British throne in 1952.
In a media interview on Sunday evening, Gachagua revealed that he had distanced himself from managing the family business following his election in 2022.
He noted that his children now oversee the businesses and are entitled to make their own investment decisions.
Gachagua highlighted that while the government seeks foreign investment in sectors like sugar, hospitality, and manufacturing, private individuals investing in the local economy should not face restrictions.
His sons have also invested in the Outspan Hotel in Nyeri Town, which was closed in 2023.
Founded in the 1920s by Eric Sherbrooke Walker, the hotel is located on a 120-acre site that also includes the Paxtu Museum.
The museum, once the home of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouts, houses a collection of artifacts including his writings, paintings, and Scouting memorabilia.
Before its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum was a significant destination for Scouts worldwide, drawing over 3,000 visitors each year.
Family hotels
The deputy president revealed that the family has chosen to restore the hotels once owned by his deceased brother, Nderitu Gachagua.
Following the death of senior Gachagua in 2017, he bequeathed an estate valued at Sh2 billion. This estate comprised the Olive Gardens Hotel in Nairobi, the Vipingo Beach Resort in Kilifi, and the Queens Gate Serviced Apartments and Resort in Nairobi.
“I am one of the most honest leaders in this country. Many wealthy leaders choose to invest abroad to hide their investments. I have told my sons that whatever business they choose to invest in, they should do it without fear because it is our hard-earned money,” Gachagua stated.
“In Nyeri, many of our hotels were closed, and it is shameful. They want me to look for foreigners to invest in them. What our children have done is partner with other individuals and use bank loans to revive the hotels, employing people and impacting the local economy,” he added.
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He shared that when he joined forces with President William Ruto to form the government in 2022, he directed his sons to abandon their decade-long mosquito net importing business to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
Despite their resistance, given the business’s success, he advised them to rely on his financial resources and focus solely on private sector ventures.
“Everyone knows I had some money that had been frozen but was later released. Where was I supposed to take that money?” he questioned.
In 2022, the Deputy President revealed in an interview that his net worth was Sh800 million, not including the Sh200 million that was frozen. This totals his net worth to roughly Sh1 billion.
Gachagua additionally shared that he funded the Kenya Kwanza campaigns and played a significant role in securing financial support for most of the MPs.
“All these MPs we have, there is none of them whom I did not give money. In my campaign as running mate, the president did not give me a single coin. I used my own money for vehicle and air transport,” he said.
He also stated that he has never done business in government throughout his life.
Inside Gachagua’s Luxury: 5 Elite Hotels Managed by His Family (Photos)
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