This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
On a 28,000-acre property near Nairobi, Chris Musau built a retirement home to live with his interior-designer wife, Ndanu Musau. The property, now worth Sh680 million, started as a pastime two years after he sold off his Nova Supermarkets' retail outlets to Naivas Supermarkets in 2017.
Development of the property, which Musau had initially intended as a retirement home, began in 2017. However, it was later transformed into a thriving lodge, boasting 360 deluxe rooms at Lukenya area, Machakos County.
According to Musau, his children were not interested in taking over the operations of Nova Supermarkets in Machakos and Komarock, which he had worked on for eight straight years. This led him to explore other business ventures, including the development of the lodge.
Speaking to Nyakundi Report, Musau said, 'Spending time with my grandchildren forced me to love swimming as their complete joy cannot come without diving into the pool for some water sport.'
The lodge, which is a 40-minute drive from Nairobi, features a wide range of amenities, including two restaurants serving African, Indian, and Mediterranean dishes, a swimming pool, and a barbeque area. Guests also have access to a variety of wild animals, including zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, which roam freely within the expansive compound.
Maanzoni Lodge, as it is known, boasts of 15 conference halls of various sizes, which are leased out to wedding and graduation parties as well as for meetings convened by national and international groups.
When asked about his day-to-day activities, Musau revealed that he spends three days at the hotel while allowing his children to run it on alternative days. He also mentioned that his wife, Ndanu, is actively involved in running the property from building designs to greening.
According to Musau, 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.
He added that children must be encouraged to pursue various interests to the highest level and where necessary seek employment elsewhere with the experience ploughed into the family business.
Published on November 15, 2019, at 8:12 am.
