El Acebuchal – A Mountain Village Rebuilt around a Restaurant
El Acebuchal, a hidden little village in a narrow valley, with a unqiue Andalucian fusion restaurant as its main attraction
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Cedars – A Legend in Kilimani
Cedars is one of very few restaurants in Nairobi that has managed to stay relevant for decades. Back in the Moi era, this Lebanese restaurant was a hangout place for regime bigwigs. It mainly catered to the then small upmarket clientele in the area around Kilimani, Kileleshwa and Lavington. While the menu has changed substantially…
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Kilimani – From a leafy suburb, to a concrete jungle
When I first moved to Kenya, in 2002, Kilimani was was an idyllic, leafy suburb, dotted with tall, green trees. The area mainly consisted of colonial-era bungalows with lush spacious 1-acre gardens. It was the embodiment of Nairobi’s nickname – The Green City in the Sun! The neighborhood is home to State House, so security…
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HotelOnline Equity Crowdfunding Video
In October 2017, we were looking to raise money to accelerate HotelOnline’s expansion. With the HotelOnline/Savanna Sunrise merger completed earlier in the year, we had become a dominant traveltech player in Africa, and we had successfully built a string foothold in Nigeria. We realised that completing a Series A round would be a complex and…
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Nairobi – The post-election silence
Election lauded by the international community Friday August 11th. Kenya voted on Tuesday. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is expected to announce the winner of the Presidential tally anytime soon, but keeps postponing the moment everyone is waiting for. Based on the preliminary results announced, it is already clear that President Uhuru Kenyatta…
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2017 – Election fever as Kenya votes
Throughout most of 2017, Kenya has been in an election fever mode. Being here while it happens, is a peculiar experience, as all activity grinds to a standstill, while all eyes are on the campaigning. Africa’s most expensive elections ever The Kenya 2017 general election is estimated to be the most expensive in the history…
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Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) – future hub for Africa?
JKIA in an advantageous position When Kenya (or the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, to be precise) finally gained the coveted Category One status in February, it was a game-changer. With Kenya Airways recently obtaining air traffic rights in the US, things seem on track for KQ to launch direct US flights by March 2018. Kenya…
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Lunatic Express – New life as a tourist attraction?
Lunatic Express – The Railway that Built a Country Kenya is doubtlessly the only country in history to have been built around a railway line. When construction on the “Lunatic Express” (its official name being the Uganda Railway) began in 1896, the project was considered a “gigantic folly” and a terrible drain on tax money….
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Uber, and the taxi app revolution in Kenya
It all started with Uber.. When Uber launched in Nairobi, in January 2015, few imagined the impact they would have on how people move around. Taking a taxi in Nairobi used to be a dreadful experience, with smelly, old ramshackles being the norm. Drivers, at times as smelly as their cars, would more often than…
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AfroChic Diani – a hidden gem!
Diani, in South Coast offers a far less congested option compared to the crowded beaches in Nyali, north of Mombasa. While Diani has a couple of mass tourism “machines”, there is also a number of small, cosy boutique hotels. On top of that league, is AfroChic Diani Beach. Located right on Diani Beach, this exquisite little…
