The massive hospitality project rising near Nakuru’s State House, the Encore Hotel, belongs to businessman Sam Mburu, the husband of Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika. Mburu recently broke his silence on the multi-billion-shilling venture following intense parliamentary scrutiny regarding the hotel’s scale and its sensitive proximity to the presidential residence.
Addressing concerns over the site’s location, Mburu confirmed that he and Governor Kihika are the primary backers of the development. He assured the public that the project strictly followed the law, securing every required regulatory green light before breaking ground.
“Large projects like this require proper oversight,” Mburu stated, further noting that the hotel’s position does not compromise the security of the neighboring State House.
Pastor David Mwangi, Chairman of the Nakuru Tourism Association and project manager, echoed Mburu’s remarks, saying the project has received backing from various local authorities, including the county planning office, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), and the public health department.
Mwangi described the Encore Hotel as a landmark addition to the region’s tourism sector, with the potential to draw both corporate and leisure visitors.
Once complete, the property will feature:
-
205 Rooms: A mix of deluxe rooms, executive suites, and a high-end presidential suite.
-
Conference Powerhouse: 23 meeting rooms and a grand ballroom.
-
Events Space: A 3,500-square-meter garden designed for outdoor exhibitions and weddings.
-
Wellness & Leisure: A dedicated spa, wellness center, swimming pool, and multiple gourmet restaurants.
Strategically positioned near the Nairobi–Nakuru highway, the hotel aims to turn Nakuru into a premier hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), as well as wellness and transit tourism.
State House Land Under Scrutiny
The emergence of the Encore Hotel comes at a time of heightened scrutiny regarding government land. State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito recently told the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security that private individuals have encroached on several State Houses and Lodges nationwide.
Learn More – ‘Almost All’ State Lodges Hit by Land Grabbers: Katoo Ole Metito Tells Parliament
Metito described an aggressive ongoing campaign to reclaim hundreds of acres from unauthorized occupants to protect the integrity of these high-security facilities. The government recently successfully repossessed 100 acres in Kakamega and additional land in Eldoret.
“Almost all these State Lodges and State Houses… their land was really encroached, so it is a process. We are trying one by one. Even the Eldoret one we did, we had to repossess it from the club,” Metito informed lawmakers.
The comptroller revealed that the recovery team is now shifting its focus toward Nakuru and Kisumu, where encroachment has reached critical levels.
The post Governor Kihika’s Husband Defends Sh5 Billion ‘Encore’ Hotel Near State House Nakuru appeared first on Bossnana.
