It is easy to miss the hotel perched on the hillside along the Embu-Meru Road. And while it may not have a notable name like the global chains, Izaak Walton now prides itself as the spot where one of the world's wealthiest men, Sir Richard Branson, savoured his Kenyan breakfast of maandazi and coffee.
The founder of Virgin Group could have easily flown a private helicopter to the hotel. In any case, he owns a whole airline - Virgin Atlantic - among 400 other companies! But he chose to drive up the countryside as he embarked on what he termed as one of his toughest endeavours so far, climbing Mount Kenya.
But he needed the energy to tackle the mountain, and there was no better way than sneaking into Izaak Walton on the morning of October 7.
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national
and international interest.