Building an empire: Lessons from Maanzoni owner

Chris Musau, the Machakos businessman and proprietor of Maanzoni Lodge, is a self-effacing man. Though he is the chairman of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, it is not easy to pick him out in a crowd of five.

But behind this unassuming demeanour is a suave businessman whose investments in the land and hospitality sectors are the envy of many.

Maanzoni Lodge, the popular resort sitting on 28 acres off the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, might be Musau’s flagship project. Few, however, know that the 10,000-acre Maanzoni Ranch was his entry into real estate. His story with Maanzoni, Kamba word for beginning, goes way back to almost five decades ago.

Born in Tawa, Machakos in 1954, Musau grew up like any other boy in rural Kenya. Still, the business bug had started to bite. During school holidays, Musau worked at his father’s businesses in Ukambani that included several shops and a transport company. After completing his secondary education at Nairobi School (then Prince of Wales), he got a job with local hides and skins companies, rising to a managerial position that earned him Sh28,000 – a tidy sum in the 1970s.

At 22 - the age at which he also got married - Musau learned that a white landowner wanted to sell 10,000 acres in order to pursue other interests. The farm had 1,800 cows besides sheep and goats. Despite his meagre savings, Musau put up a bid for the land that was then selling for Sh280 per acre.

“My friends thought I was going mad by trying to buy land in an area where it hardly rains. Others from affluent backgrounds were buying land in Ruiru, Limuru and other high-end neighbourhoods. Few saw any business sense in buying land in Ukambani. In any case, I did not even have money for the “barren” land,” says Musau.

**A section of Maanzoni Lodge.** [Jenipher Wachie,Standard]

Against all odds, Musau raised the Sh3.8 million needed to purchase the land through local lenders, personal savings and family resources. Today, over 75 per cent of the land has been sold off. Among those Musau sold part of the land to was his late brother-in-law and former Cabinet minister Mutula Kilonzo. Mutula’s Kwa Kyelu ranch is a stone’s throw away from Maanzoni Lodge.

While he is a large landowner, Musau’s dive into the hospitality world was more accidental rather than by design. Around 2007, Musau wanted to build what he terms as a small place where his grown up children could relax when they came visiting. With the help of an architect friend, he designed what was initially a 10-room outfit. However, friends urged him to expand the facility to attract business travellers and others who needed to relax during weekends.

**Maanzoni Lodge proprietor Chris Musau.** [Jenipher Wachie,Standard]

“The 10 rooms had increased to 64 by the time we opened it in 2011. The friends told me that people did not just spend money on weekends but throughout the week, hence the need for a bigger hotel and conferencing facility. Maanzoni was born,” says Musau.

Today, the lodge boasts 360 rooms built in separate clusters. In the harsh and windswept landscape, Maanzoni stands out like an oasis. Lush gardens with tropical, drought-resistant plants create an eye-catching kaleidoscope of colour.

“The beautiful gardens were created by my wife, a trained interior designer. I first met her at a party in Nairobi. Landscapers had quoted millions to design the exterior spaces. She then said she could work on the garden and you can see the results. Actually, she is paid a salary for this work,” he says.

During our visit to Maanzoni last week, it was obvious that Musau applies a hands-on approach to the lodge’s management. He is keen on details regarding any new fixtures, ongoing civil works and even the food and beverage segment.

“I want to redo the main entrance to create something similar to what you find in other lodges across the country, something rustic and inviting... I have to build something to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” he says.

He plans to construct a high-end, 300-room hotel in Machakos town and later roll out the Maanzoni brand in other counties. Such expansion is in line with his declared ideal at KAHC of driving more investments in the local hospitality industry.