Refreshing breaks at Mtito Andei

By Harold Ayodo

Although it only has a population of about 25,000 (according to the 1999 national census), Mtito Andei is perhaps more famous as a stopover town for travellers going to or from the Coast.

At any time during the day and night, buses and trucks dot the town, which lies between Nairobi and Mombasa. Most drivers and passengers stop there to refresh, eat meals or sleep over before proceeding with their journeys.

Guesthouses charge about Sh500 a night and enjoy booming business from long-distance truck drivers who stop there for the night. Parked trucks are landmarks in the mostly sunny town.

The construction of modern hotels, complete with lodging facilities, is changing the face of the area. Taleh Hotel is one such emerging development.

The popular Taleh restaurant, in Mtito Andei. About 50 buses stop here each day for refreshments.[photo: MARTIN MUKANGU/Standard]

Taleh (which means fort in Somali) was constructed two years ago and has 15 rooms for overnight travellers. It also has a mosque, several ATM machines and ice-cream parlours.

Visitors are charged Sh600 a night for single rooms and Sh1,000 for double rooms. The hotel only allows married couples to share a room. This is to keep prostitution in check.

Taleh Hotel has attracted other developers who have constructed bars next to it. Upcoming hotels in the area offer alternative accommodation to visitors who cannot afford the more upmarket Kilaguni Serena and Ngulia Safari Lodge.

Scramble for land

"We rely on travellers for our business. We serve passengers from about 50 buses a day en- route to Nairobi or Mombasa," says Taleh Hotel proprietor Mohamed Guhad.

Following the installation of Mtito Andei Police Station, private developers are investing in the area and are building modern hotels targeting travellers.

Officers from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) also patrol the area as it neighbours the expansive Tsavo West National Park.

Prices of land are increasing as investors scramble for space adjacent to the Mombasa highway. Quarter-acre plots that sold at less then Sh100,000 three years ago have an asking price of over Sh250,000.