Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has clarified claims that he owns the iconic Treetops Hotel that sits in the Aberdare National Park in Nyeri County.
In an interview with Rift Valley media stations on Monday, September 30, the DP stated that his sons, Kelvin and Keith, are running the hotel after leasing it from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Gachagua further stated that his sons took out loans to lease and subsequently renovate the hotel which currently employs 58 people.
"I'm not involved in corruption. I have always been in business even before I became a government official. My sons have never worked with the government as I have always told them to invest in the private sector.
“They have leased this hotel from KWS, not purchased it. People are spreading rumors without knowledge; this hotel belongs to KWS and has been leased," the DP told reporters.
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This comes a week after Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi publicly criticized Gachagua over claims of rapid accumulation of wealth, particularly in hotel ownership.
The MP's remarks followed Gachagua's claims of political harassment against his allies, suggesting a broader conspiracy to undermine him within the government.
In a post on X on September 21, 2024, Sudi questioned the accumulation of Gachagua's wealth especially.
“You were elected in less than 2 years, for example, and you own more than 5 hotels, how did you buy them? We should speak the truth," Sudi alleged on X.
Treetops Hotel was established in 1932 by Eric Sherbrooke Walker and his wife, initially as a two-room treehouse.
It gained fame when Princess Elizabeth stayed there in 1952, learning of her father’s death and her ascension to the throne.
The hotel has undergone several renovations, including a rebuild after it was destroyed during the Mau Mau Uprising in 1954.
Today, it features modern amenities while preserving its rustic charm, offering guests unique wildlife viewing experiences from its elevated platforms.
