This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
Giraffe Manor Embroiled in Discrimination Row ¶
June 9, 2020
Publicist Anyiko Owoko has accused Giraffe Manor of discriminating against Kenyans, sparking a heated debate on social media.
According to Anyiko, she and her friend, travel consultant Smiles Beckwith, were denied access to Giraffe Manor's breakfast and giraffe viewing area because they were Kenyans. They were allegedly charged an exorbitant rate of over $600, which included a driver, chauffeur, airport transfer, and a vehicle.
Anyiko took to Instagram to express her outrage, stating, 'Dear Giraffe Manor Management @thesafaricollection, You are cancelled & we don't need to be welcomed into Giraffe Manor, only now that you need KENYANS because all your white rich guests can't travel into your establishment because of the Corona.'
She went on to accuse Giraffe Manor of having a policy that benefits non-Kenyans and tourists coming from outside Kenya, and that they were only welcoming Kenyans because their business was suffering due to the Covid restrictions.
Anyiko urged all Kenyans to boycott Giraffe Manor and instead visit other national parks and conservancies in Kenya to see giraffes without breaking the bank.
Giraffe Manor responded to the allegations, denying that they discriminated against Kenyan customers. They stated that their policy of offering an all-inclusive package was due to the popularity of the property and that they were unable to facilitate walk-ins at any time.
The travel agency that put out a social media post announcing the opening of Giraffe Manor apologized for the misleading wording, which sparked the controversy.
