Achieving woman: Carol, one of the few Kenyans who own islands

There are those who have discovered the way to go when it comes to enjoying the luxuries of the mangrove jungles in the Indian Ocean. There are a number of islands south of Mombasa, among them Funzi Island that has three islets: Kigamboni- owned by one Carol Otieno; Kinazini and Milimani.

Adoring the exclusivity that comes with spending time in the mangrove islets, Carol fell in love with the island during her vacations there.

She then opted to buy a parcel of land on the Kigamboni Island and built an ultra-luxurious five-bedroomed lodge on a one and a half acre land on the private island.

Ms Otieno, a large scale farmer in the coast region from Mombasa’s leafy suburb Nyali estate says that the island cost her Sh6 million.

To own an island, other than getting a permit from the Kenya Forest Service and Kenya Wildlife Service, one needs to be committed to conserving the mangrove ecosystem and balancing luxury and sustainability, she says.

A few years back, most of the islands in the Indian Ocean were owned by wealthy foreigners among them Alessandro Torriani who is said to own Funzi and four more small islands that he values at Sh1.6 billion each.