A few days before former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha’s funeral, former President Uhuru Kenyatta flew to Siaya where he spent a couple of days.
The former Head of State spent his nights in a resort bordering Kakamega and Siaya Counties dubbed, Little Gem Resort.
Not much was known about the resort until when it was covered by media following Uhuru’s visit.
Here is the story as told by WoK.
Proprietor
Frank Otieno is the proprietor of Little Gem Resort located in Dudi, at the border of Gem and Khwisero constituencies in Siaya and Kakamega counties.
The businessman and his late wife started the facility in 2016 as a small bar and restaurant.
However, they later expanded the establishment as they sought to offer more services such as accommodation.
The hotel has a 40-bed capacity comprising of standard rooms, executive suites and hotel room apartments.
Th prices range from Ksh 6,000 to Ksh 25,000.
“We have 12 executive suites and seven hotel apartments, which are a hybrid of hotel rooms and what many refer to as Airbnb, as well as other standard rooms,” said Otieno.
Little Gem Resort also has a bar, restaurant, garden and a swimming pool.
Most visitors of the hotel are from Siaya and the neighbouring counties such as Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, and Kisumu.
“With the kind of appreciation from the President after staying in the facility, it makes me happy and content that where I wanted the hotel to be is where it is, and it will attract even more of his ilk,” Otieno said.
Uhuru’s visit
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta landed in an open section inside the Little Gem Resort on Friday, February 10.
He alighted from his black helicopter and he was received by Otieno.
The resort is six kilometers away from Yala Town where former Education CS George Magoha was being buried and Uhuru needed to be.
In an interview with Nation, Otieno said he was anxious when Uhuru visited his hotel and wondered if his hotel would met the VIP standards.
“I was very excited and surprised at the same time, and taken aback because I did not know the protocol on how to take care of the President
“As a director, I am thinking about whether my facility will be appealing to him, or will he have the humility to accept my hotel?” he said.
Otieno was aware of the former president’s visit, and it took three days of intense planning through phone calls and texts.
The hotelier said he received a call from Uhuru’s personal assistant who enquired about the hotel’s capacity and menu among other things.
A day after the initial call, he was instructed to stop all bookings and told that the facility had been taken over by Uhuru’s team.
Hours before Uhuru’s visit, an advance team had arrived at the hotel and conducted a survey to make sure that everything was in check.
The former Head of State arrived at the facility and interacted freely with the hotel’s staff and guests in the hotel.
Because Uhuru has his own staff including chefs and a housekeeper, they worked closely with the hotel staff during the stay.
Chefs from the hotel noted that Uhuru had insisted that he wanted to have food prepared by the hotel staff.
“I made him oats for breakfast, samosa and mishkaki, while for dinner we prepared grilled chicken, deep fried tilapia, ugali and chip
“I have never made food for such a prominent person and it was a good feeling when he said he enjoyed the food,” Moraa said.
Uhuru spend Friday and Saturday nights at the resort.
He stayed in Room 3 on the second floor, an executive suite with two bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen and a dining area.
On Sunday morning, he flew back to Nairobi and he was seen off by Siaya Governor James Orengo who was accompanied by his Chief of Staff Cyrus Oguna.
He also had a talk with the hotel staff before leaving.
“Thank you so much. I am very grateful for the good hospitality. I was telling the governor here that you have a truly wonderful place and we have really enjoyed ourselves here. I am looking forward to coming back here again,” Uhuru said.
