Lodge visitors seek to sleep on Kibaki, Raila beds

By Harold Ayodo

Politicians in the Grand Coalition may be far from working in harmony, but the beds that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga slept on during a bonding meeting in a game lodge have become convergence points for visitors seeking to share the leaders’ luxury.

Local and some foreign visitors, irrespective of political affiliation, have been finding a common purpose to indulge in the luxury of the suites where the two VIPs stayed when their sides met in April at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge as they sought elusive harmony.

A five-suite block, that housed the two partners and United Nations peace mediator Kofi Annan last year, have been most sought after by visitors to the Tsavo West National Park.

"Some visitors who tour the park for game viewing stop at the lodge for meals or drinks then request to see the room. We always allow them when they are not occupied," says Assistant Lodge Manager Michael Mwami.

The suite that President Kibaki slept in, overlooking a watering point.

The suite used by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.[PHOTOS: MARTIN MUKANGU/STANDARD]

Mwami says mainly local guests have over the past two high season months been booking the suites and specifically asking to be placed where a particular leader slept.

Clients request

"Some bookings are made online and clients request either to sleep in Annan’s, Kibaki’s or Raila’s suites," Mwami says. "We witnessed an increase of Kenyan families that paid to spend weekends in particular suites in August when schools were closed."

Some local and foreign tourists sit on the suites’ furniture, have photo sessions – depending on the ones occupied by their leaders of choice.

The manager says the suites are in demand during both the high and low seasons – even to newlyweds on honeymoon.

Foreign journalists working on special reports on the resolution of the post election skirmishes often request to photograph the rooms.

Other leaders whose names are mostly asked after by visitors include Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

In April, this year, Kibaki and Raila led PNU and ODM Ministers to the resort for a bonding meeting that turned stormy and aborted. Kibaki spent a night in the same suite, Mzima Suite, where Annan had slept. Raila took Suite 1 with a connecting door to Suite 2, named Dik Dik Suite, right below Kibaki’s.

Annan and his mediation team had stayed at the lodge during a deadlock on their Nairobi Serena talks while members of the Coalition Government met here for a bonding retreat that turned stormy, Gichohi says.

Administrators of the lodge say captivation of the tourists begun after Annan spent two nights in Suite 4, dubbed Mzima Suite, in 2007. Uhuru was in Suite 5, Kilimanjaro, above Kibaki. The arrangement may have been coincidental but visitors never fail to marvel at whether there may have been any succession symbolism implied.

The spot at the main restaurant where a special table was placed for Raila, Kibaki and Musyoka during meal times also creates interest.

Waiters at the main restaurant and grounds men say visitors ask them of the environment at the lodge when the top leaders converged.

"Power was in the air, you could feel VIP presence when Kibaki and Raila sat on their table at the restaurant over lunch," says a seasoned waiter.

Kibaki, however, ate his dinner in his suite before holding meetings with leaders in Suite 3 – Chyulu Suite – which was next to his room.

An aide of Kibaki kept watch in the kitchen when his meals were prepared on order while his aide de camp accompanied waiters who took dinner to his Suite.

But Raila and the other VIPs ate all their meals in the dining room, says a waiter.

Political scientists and history scholars say the lodge has curved a niche in history as a venue Annan believed would provide an atmosphere fit to resolve the crisis. The five suites have bars stocked with soft drinks, wines, champagne and whiskies, which hoteliers say are benchmarks of class.

The rooms are expansive, fitted with modern furniture, with a view to a watering hole – less than 80 metres away – where wild animals quench their thirst.

Kibaki’s features a king-size six-by-six foot bed while Raila’s had twin beds. All the leaders stayed alone, without their spouses, during the retreat.

Many women visitors prefer spending in standard rooms where former Justice Minister Martha Karua and Water and Irrigation Minister Charity Ngilu slept.

Women visitors

The room where Higher Education Minister Dr Sally Kosgey slept is also a favourite among women visitors, says the Assistant Lodge Manager.

"Tourists who fail to get space in the suites that are mostly booked in advance request to see them when not occupied," Mwami says.

Some visitors who came last week wanted Musyoka’s room but it was occupied and they opted for Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo’s, says Mwami.

Researchers and Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) students of Conflict Resolution: A Case Study of 2007 Presidential Elections in Kenya have been visitors to the lodge. Lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, rhinos and waterbucks are common animals at the watering spot.

A view of Mt Kilimanjaro and Chyulu hills, during clear skies, are among other features visible from the rooms.

Attractions of the game reserve are usually the over 450 indigenous bird species, volcanic lava, Mzima Springs, the ‘Man Eaters of Tsavo’ territory and bewitching sceneries.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Tsavo West National Park tourism officer Joseph Gichohi says there are increased enquiries over the suites.

The lodge that was officially opened on May 22, 1969, is located 30 kilometres off the Mtito Andei Mombasa Highway.

Photos of the late President Kenyatta at the restaurant, watching elephants at the water point, may be proof of the importance of the premise in politics.

Records at the facility show that Kenyatta met several leaders at the lodge and even used it as a place to unwind. After his team’s stay, Annan addressed a press conference on February 15, 2008 in Nairobi after his session with the two teams at Kilaguni. "We have just arrived from 48 hours of intense and fruitful negotiations at a secret location, which you all know is Kilaguni Lodge," Annan said.

He continued: "The parties worked well together often in mixed groups and by themselves showing strong commitments to peace and reconciliation."

The chief mediator said ODM and PNU had reached an agreement on a range of issues and narrowed considerably the options for a governance structure.