By: Elijah Maingi
As we marked the end of 2022 on Saturday 31st, it was also the end of an era for the iconic Hilton Hotel which is located at the heart of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
The hotel, known for its circular tower, has been an iconic landmark in Nairobi for over 53 years.
By Saturday noon, all the entrances had been locked with padlocks something which saw them witness little to no activity, with patrons replaced by hawk-eyed security personnel. A guard revealed that there were no people inside the building, staff had not reported to work. The Hilton hotel logos that have always been placed by the entrances and at strategic positions of the building had been pulled down.
“By Thursday, they had folded their welcome mat that is always at the entrance. A few renovations here and paintings there. The pantry was already empty. So were the guest rooms. The swimming pool was drained already and the kitchen had become so cold,” a staffer revealed.
The government owns a stake of 40.57 percent of hotel whose parent company is International Hotels Kenya. The management, by the time of going to press, was yet to respond to queries on whether the building already has a new occupant.
For many city residents, this will always be Hilton regardless of whatever entity takes over the building. This has been a meeting point for some and a geographical reference point for others, and will likely remain so for years to come.
Historically, it was here whereby on March 2, 1975, Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (popularly known as JM) walked in with a friend, a security chief, and never to be seen alive again. The hotel which is a pioneer in the hospitality industry was the first hospitality company in Kenya to sponsor the renowned Safari Rally driver Patrick Njiru.
Mt Kenya Times 
Suleiman Mbatiah