Watamu, which takes its name from the Swahili word for the sweet people, is known for its beautiful beaches, ocean views, and popular holiday resorts.
Among its most popular destinations are Papa Remo Beach, Papa Remo Restaurant, and Seven Islands Resort, which are owned and run by the Lenzi family.
Remo Lenzi relocated to Kenya from Rome in the mid-1990s. He settled in the sunny beaches of Watamu, a coastal town in Kilifi County, where he decided to retire and begin a new chapter in his life.
He bought an undeveloped piece of land near Seven Islands Bay, pitched a tent, and built a simple shack.
The Watamu community quickly accepted him, and children at the beach began calling him “Papa Remo.” He later used the name for his restaurant.
Over time, his son, Roberto, and grandson, Riccardo, took over what their father had started, transforming it into a holiday resort, a beach, and the Saturday night shows that have made the place famous.
Papa Remo Restaurant overlooks the green waters of the Indian Ocean and faces two large rocky islands.
Its setting attracts visitors who want to enjoy a meal while taking in the seaside views.
The family’s businesses also include Crystal Bay and Seven Islands resorts in Watamu, reportedly valued at more than KSh1 billion.
Other properties linked to Lenzi include the Crystal Bay and Paparemo Village residential developments, Tamu Restaurant, and Paparemo Beach Restaurant.
The family’s vast estate also features several imposing mansions and a golf course.
These investments have helped expand Watamu’s tourism industry and contributed to its growth as a holiday destination on the Kenyan coast.
Paparemo often hosts private parties for continental, Asian, and Eurpean ViP weddings and concerts featuring top African names in the entertainment sector.
Mr Lenzi himself recently hosted a party for one of Nigeria’s richest tycoons.
The restaurant has also been the recent host of the “Red Card Campaign “, a gender equality initiative that was supported by the Africa Regional Office of the United Nations Development Programme (ARDN).
During the event, Lenzi stated that the development of an intelligent and responsible entertainment space has been a key factor behind the growth of Watamu’s tourism sector.
“We are making Watamu a modern and international destination,” said the 95-year-old tycoon.
He stated that his vision was to ensure that Watamu has all the credentials to attract young people looking for the pleasures of all-round vacationing as well as older people looking to host and attend serious initiatives like the Red Campaign.
Lenzi’s grandson, Riccardo Lenzi, reportedly died in 2024 after suffering from the flu. He was described as the family’s only male heir.
In 2018, the Lenzi family found themselves on the wrong side of the law when the court of appeal ruled that the plot of land that the five-star Seven Islands Resort was built on did not belong to Mr Lenzi and that it had been illegally acquired from one Sarah Jelangat Siele.