This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
From Retirement Home to Thriving Lodge ¶
Chris Wambua, a seasoned hotelier and chairman of the Kenya Association of Hotel Caterers, has turned his retirement home into a thriving lodge, Maanzoni Lodge, located in Lukenya, Machakos County.
Wambua built the retirement home, which spans 28,000 acres, as a pastime two years after selling his Nova Supermarkets' retail outlets to Naivas Supermarkets in 2017.
With a net worth of Sh680 million, the lodge boasts 360 deluxe rooms, two restaurants serving a variety of dishes, and 15 conference halls of various sizes.
Guests can enjoy a range of activities, including swimming, team building, and large meetings, amidst a backdrop of lush green lawns and roaming wild animals such as zebras, giraffes, and ostriches.
Wambua's day starts at 5am with a three to six kilometre run on the treadmill, followed by a 15-minute weightlifting session. He spends three days at the hotel while allowing his children to run it on alternative days.
Wambua's wife, Ndanu Musau, is also actively involved in running the property, from building designs to greening, and has been instrumental in choosing the flowers, plants, and tree species that dot the property.
According to Wambua, all his children know their share in the property he owns and abhors property wars that only 'enrich' lawyers with properties being wasted as the succession cases drag in court.
