Azimio coalition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is one of Kenya’s most experienced politicians. Away from the world of politics, he is a businessman who places his net worth north of Ksh2 billion.
Raila’s biggest investments are in the energy sector. He holds significant stakes in East African Spectre – Kenya’s leading gas cylinder manufacture and revalidation firm, BE Energy – one of the country’s top petrol station chains, and Pan African Petroleum – a company involved in import and distribution of various petroleum products. However, he has also been steadily stepping up his investments in the hospitality sector.
The hospitality sector, alongside real estate, stands as one of the most popular investment areas for prominent Kenyan politicians. Other Kenyan politicians who have invested in hotels around the country include President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.
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Among hotels associated with Odinga is the Royal City Hotel in the lakeside city of Kisumu.
The hotel sits on ancestral land owned by Odinga. It is popular with local elites, and has hosted several Kisumu county government events.
The Royal City Hotel – Town includes 49 rooms split up into standard, deluxe and executive rooms. It also incorporates 2 conference halls and a special hall – targeting the meetings, conventions and exhibitions market.
“The hotel is located at the heart of the ancestral home of the former Prime Minister, the right honorable Raila Amollo Odinga’s land in a serene, quiet and cool environment, best for excursion and tour, with diverse leisure and conference facility, a unique combination of pleasure and business,” the hotel discloses on its website.
Raila is also associated with an upcoming Ksh500 million beach resort development in Malindi, Kilifi county. Once complete, it is expected to be one of the largest luxury hotels on the Kenyan coast.
A National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) assessment report revealed details of the planned development, which will sit on a 4.3 acre land parcel, only 100 metres from the Indian Ocean shoreline. It is owned by Kango Enterprises, where Odinga serves as a director.
The ground floor will feature a conference hall, service rooms, and offices – with the hotel eyeing the lucrative meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions (MICE) market. It will have 33 luxury rooms on the first floor, as well as a spa, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam rooms.
On the second floor will be a presidential suite and 19 more rooms. The development also includes six blocks of two and three-bedroom luxury villa.
It also includes a standalone presidential villa that incorporates three bedrooms, a lounge, dining room, kitchen, and gazebo among other amenities.
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