Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed how his two sons ventured into Kenya’s hospitality industry after he encouraged them to invest in their home county instead of looking for opportunities abroad.
Speaking during the Midwest Diaspora Executive Business Conference, Gachagua said his sons had initially considered investing in the hospitality sector in Mombasa, where the family owns property.Gachagua’s son showers his mother with praise during her coronation as …
He said he persuaded them to consider two historic hotels in Nyeri, Treetops and The Outspan, which had been closed, and invest in reviving the properties.
Gachagua said his sons eventually acquired the hotels through financing and began rebuilding the businesses, creating employment opportunities for residents in the area.
According to the former deputy president, Treetops currently employs about 60 people drawn from the surrounding community, while The Outspan has more than 150 workers.
The investments have also created a market for local suppliers, with traders and farmers from neighbouring areas supplying various products to the hotels.
Gachagua cited women traders at Mudavadi Market in Nyeri town among those supplying fresh produce to the establishments. He also said residents living near the hotels provide products such as cassava.
He described the investments as having benefits beyond the hotels’ operations, arguing that businesses can support entire communities by creating jobs and providing markets for local producers.
Gachagua also encouraged Kenyans living abroad to consider investing in their home areas, saying such ventures can provide employment for people within communities where investors have family and social ties.
The former deputy president said the decision by his sons to invest in Nyeri demonstrated how private businesses could contribute to local economic activity.
His remarks have since generated discussion on social media, with some users drawing comparisons between the investments and business ventures associated with other prominent Kenyan families.
Gachagua’s comments came amid wider conversations about investments by children of senior political figures and their impact on local businesses and communities.
He maintained that investing in areas where one has strong ties can create opportunities while contributing to the growth of local economies.