Meru County boasts a Gross County Product (GCP) that ranks among the richest counties in Kenya. With several tourist attractions, including the iconic Meru National Reserve, the Mount Kenya East devolved unit has attracted several tycoons to bet on its hospitality industry.
In this article, WoK profiles several tycoons whose ownership of some of the best hotels in Meru County has become public knowledge.
- Francis Njogu – Alba Hotel
Billionaire businessman Francis Koome Njogu is associated with the prestigious Alba Hotel situated along Milimani Road in Meru Town, Meru County.
Njogu is the former Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Energy and is said to have pocketed Ksh 1.9 billion after Gulf Energy’s 16.4 Bn sellout to multinational energy company Rubis.
It taps greatly into its strategic location, which gives its clientele a memorable experience when exploring various attractions. These include Nyambene Hills, Meru Museum, Meru National Park, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (50 Km away) and Mount Kenya (80 Km away).
The hotel offers a wide range of facilities, beginning with 51 guest rooms. They are categorized and charged differently. On a perfect sunny day, visitors get to create a splash and flex their muscles in the swimming pool.
Moreover, Alba Hotel has two restaurants that serve a wide variety of local and international dishes perfectly prepared to activate the taste buds.
2. Kiraitu Murungi – Nkubu Heritage Hotel
The veteran politician is considered one of the most prominent leaders from the Mount Kenya East region. He is among the wealthiest individuals in Kenya and is known to own various properties in different parts of the country.
The Havard-educated politician is the owner of Nkubu Heritage Hotel, located in Nkubu Town, Meru County.
Local and continental dishes and drinks are provided through the on-site restaurant and bar. Outdoor dining services are also available in the hotel.
Nkubu Heritage Hotel offers free WiFi internet access, a 24-hour front desk service, valet parking services, ample parking space and round-the-clock room service. Also within the hotel is an event facility to host social and corporate events. The premises are guarded by security personnel and equipped with CCTV security cameras.
The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Meru Town and 1 hour from the Meru National Park.
The hotel has a wide range of high-end facilities including an Olympic-sized swimming pool that can accommodate both pro swimmers and beginners. There is also a separate swimming poll for children that has limited depth.
Other facilities include fine dining restaurants, ultra-modern bar, outside catering services, wedding packages and receptions.
The hotel also offers tour packages of Lawe-Ngare Ndare, Mt Kenya, and Meru National Park.
3. Bernard Ngore – SpringWells Hotel, Maua
Bernard Ngore is a mechanical engineer and current chairman of the Kenya Motors Repairs Association (KeMRA). He is also the former National Standards Council (NSC) chairman at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) board.
Ngore, who holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and a postgraduate diploma in administrative management from the Institute of Administrative Management in London, also served as a board member of Numerical Machining Complex NMC (2012-2014).
Bernard Ngore is the proprietor of SpringWells Hotel, a three-star facility located near Maua Town, Igembe South, Meru County.
SpringWells is strategically located: 273 kilometres from Nairobi, 48 km from Meru Town, 68 km from the Isiolo International Airport, and 26 km from the Meru National Park.
