Machakos’ first five star hotel is set to open its doors to customers in December. Former Precision Air Chief Executive Officer Alphonse Kioko is the man behind the new hotel project set to change the skyline over the fast growing Machakos town.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) is is the mortgage provider for the venture that has five other shareholders. Accommodation in Machakos town has remained a challenge even as the town which is headquarters for Machakos County, continues to expand.
“Whenever there are major events within the county, there is rush for the few available spaces in town with some forced to seek accommodation in far locations like Masii, about 15 kilometres away,” Mr Kioko said.
He said with the new facility named Gelian Hotel, which has about 100 rooms, the problem of lack of adequate accommodation will be resolved.
“The timing is perfect given the upcoming festive season and especially the extravaganza planned for towards end of the year,” he added. The hotel is 45 minutes drive away from Nairobi, eight minutes from Kyamwilu site commonly know as ‘Zero gravity’.
This is a tourist attraction area where nature defies gravity and water flows upstream. It is also 15 minutes from wood carving centre of Wamunyu. In an interview with Weekend Business, Kioko said the hotel is a community facility that will act as a central point of civil hospitality.
“This great structure build to keen details and mindful of the awful depression that had settled over the nation’s hospitality industry is a clear manifestation of our confidence to invest in destination Kenya,”’ he said.
He added that the establishment of the hotel will create hundreds of jobs. In total, there are 95 rooms which include two presidential suites, four ambassadorial, 36 deluxe and 53 standard rooms.
“We have pegged an introductory rate of $100 (Sh8,900),” he said. And in a bid to take advantage of the growing trend in Meetings Incentives Conference and Exhibitions (Mice), Kioko says the hotel has five rooms complete with video conferencing facilities with capacity to hold more than 400 people.