Two prominent families, including that of former Tetu MP James Ndung’u Gethenji and veteran businessman and administrator in the Jomo Kenyatta era James Waibochi, have reaped from the sale of a Sh254.48 million combined stake in Aberdare Safari Hotels, which owns the famous Treetops Lodge and Outspan Hotel on the slopes of Mount Kenya.
An annual general meeting of Aberdare Safari Hotels on January 9, 2025 resolved that the company purchase 1,272,400 ordinary shares each from Wagema Limited and Wain Limited, at a consideration of Sh127,240,000 for each of the sellers.
“The resolution was passed in accordance with section 451 of the Companies Act (Cap. 486) of the Laws of Kenya,” Aberdare Safari Hotels lawyer Kiingati Ndirangu said.
The transaction means that Wagema and Wain have jointly relinquished 2,544,800 shares in Aberdare Safari Hotels, which has a total of 3,370,064 shares, and now only retain 412,632 shares each.
Records at the Companies Registry show the shareholders of Wagema as of February 10, 2025 included James Ndung’u Gethenji, Robert Marekia Gethenji, Fredrick Gitahi Gethenji, and Hildah Wangari Gethenji.
The Gethenjis each held 125 ordinary shares in Wagema.
The records also showed that Wain shareholders included businessman and philanthropist James Waibochi, Catherine Wanjiku Waibochi, John Muraguri Waibochi, Kenneth Rukwaro Waibochi, and Winnifred Wambui Waibochi.
The Waibochis each held 1,000 ordinary shares in Wain.
The patriarch, Waibochi, is a businessman and was an administrator in the late Jomo Kenyatta’s government where he served as the Director of Kenyanisation of the Personnel Bureau at the Ministry of Labour.
The Treetops Lodge, located within the Aberdare National Park, is renowned for its links with the late UK’s Queen Elizabeth.
In 1952, Elizabeth II —then Princess Elizabeth—was staying at Treetops Lodge when she received the news of her father’s death.
Queen Elizabeth, who passed away on September 8, 2022, later ascended to the thrones of the UK and the Commonwealth.
The Treetops is currently leased by the two sons of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following a deal with the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Mr Gachagua in October 2024 revealed that Crystal Kenya Ltd, the company associated with his children—Keith Gachagua and Kelvin Gachagua, took a bank loan to secure the lease.
Emotional moment
“It is an emotional moment for me to see the careers of these people being revived once again. The hotel will also contribute to the Mt Kenya tourism circuit with added accommodation,” Keith Gachagua said at an event to mark the reopening of Treetops Hotel on August 3, 2024.
Outspan Hotel, located in Ruring’u, Nyeri County, was built in 1926 and was once the home of the founders of the Scout and Girl Guide movements, Lord and Lady Baden Powell.
