The White Rhino Hotel is a national monument steeped in grandeur. The hotel is among the first established in the Nyeri area and retains a striking sense of the luxury and bustling activity that characterises its long history.
The hotel’s beginnings date back to 1910. Sandy Herd, Berkely Cole and Lord Cranworth were the Europeans who erected the establishment at the beginning of the 20th century. In its heyday, the White Rhino was abuzz with activity. At the time, the main patrons were colonialists who had made it their stomping ground for drinking and socialising. And like many colonial outfits, the hotel did not welcome Africans with open arms. In fact, it had a club restricted to only European patrons. To make sure the message of exclusivity hit home, vicious guard dogs were primed to attack any Africans nearing the vicinity.
Apart from defining the hotel’s early history, European settlers also gave it one of its most distinctive features – its name. The story goes that a rhino was shot by white settlers visiting the area for game hunting. From there, the hotel was styled as the White Rhino.
Opening the Doors to Inclusivity
In 1965, after independence, this predominantly white premises was acquired by the Asian businessman Ramnic Bhadrese. At the time, the hotel had a mere 27 rooms. In addition, guests only had access to minimal facilities. This includes single rooms which were often not ensuite and a restaurant. There was also a bar that Bhadrese later transformed into a seminar hall. Under his leadership, Bhadrese brought with him a monumental change. African guests were allowed to go into the hotel for the first time in the hotel’s sordid history.
After five years, the hotel changed hands once more and became the property of one Amos Wamuyu. After buying the property, Wamuyu continued the work of changing the trajectory of the hotel for the better. He began by tearing down the ‘whites-only’ sign that still marred the hotel’s entrance and proceeded to renovate the hotel. Subsequently, all the rooms became self-contained and reduced to a total of 22. He returned the bar and divided it into two areas. One part — the Thingira Bar — was designed with older businessmen in mind.
A Hotel for the History Books
When 1985 came around, Wamuyu had owned the White Rhino for 15 years and passed the baton to Former Kieni MP, David Munene Kairu. Upon Kairu’s passing, his wife Lucy was left at the helm. She ran the hotel under a family business by the name of Legend Hotels Limited.
The hotel then took on a huge rebranding effort. The aim was to communicate it as a contemporary establishment with the undeniable gravity of historical significance. These efforts certainly paid off and the hotel was officially gazetted as a national monument on 9th March 2001. The developments at the premises also meant the hotel evolved into a swanky landmark that drew interest from guests the world over.
The building expanded to have four room types ranging from superior rooms to penthouse suites. It also had panoramic elevators, jacuzzis, private balconies with glorious views of Nyeri, and even automatic shoe polishers! When it came to ensuring opulent stays for guests lucky enough to visit, no expense was spared. The White Rhino had officially established itself as a 4-star hotel worth its salt.
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic brought dark days to this once-shining model of hospitality. With hotels being devastated by the lack of travel, it was almost inevitable that the White Rhino would shut down.
Still, at over 115 years old, the hotel has held its own in a fast-paced world. It continues to be a historical site that holds the memory of how far we have come.
Have you ever stayed at the White Rhino? Do you remember the hotel’s glory days? Share your White Rhino memories with us in the comments!
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