Lord Erroll: Rich History of Gideon Moi's Runda Restaurant

An image of Lord Erroll restaurant in Runda, Nairobi.
An image of Lord Erroll restaurant in Runda, Nairobi.
Lord Erroll Restaurant

The Lord Erroll, an award-winning French and gourmet restaurant and hotel in Nairobi's Runda is ranked among the top hospitality facilities in the country.

Established in 1997 by entrepreneurs Hans Stoecklin, Michael Craig and Felix Huwler, the ownership of the facility changed hands when Baringo Senator Gideon Moi bought it in February 2013.

However, behind the restaurant is a rich history of a flamboyant British aristocrat, who passed away along Ngong Road nearly eight decades ago.

Born Josslyn Victor Hay in 1911, he was the first son of Victor Hay, the Earl of Erroll, and was next in line to become Earl. Victor Hay, later known as Lord Erroll was a playful lad who often loved to court trouble while growing up. 

An image of Lord Erroll
An image of Lord Erroll.
Unresolved Casebook

Educated in Eton College, one of the finest schools then, Hay was expelled from the institution after two years.

His father, a High Commissioner in Berlin at the time, pushed him to take up foreign studies in a bid to ensure that the Lord would follow in his diplomatic footsteps, eventually joining politics. 

While his family had high hopes for him, Josslyn burst their bubble when he openly admitted to relations with a wealthy divorcee, Lady Idina Sackville. At the time, divorce was frowned upon in the highly religious English society, and Idina had been through two.

Hay, aged 22 and Sackville, who was eight years senior, got married in September 1923 and to save themselves from the prying eyes, the latter sold her property and relocated to Kenya, a colony of the monarch.

They settled in Central Kenya and joined a group of British settlers, aristocrats who were living large. Identifying as the Happy Valley Sect, the group consisted of some of the most affluent British citizens, unlike their counterparts, who were deeply engaged in agriculture.

Soon, Lord Erroll and Lady Idina became favourites as they threw the best and wildest parties at the time. More often than not, moral lines and marriage boundaries were crossed in these 'exclusive parties'.

Unfortunately, the marriage between Lord Erroll came to an abrupt end in 1930, not because of his infidelity, but for claims by Idina that he had been cheating her out of her fortune.

An image of Lord Erroll and his first wife, Lady Idena
An image of Lord Erroll and his first wife, Lady Idina

Described by many as charming, he caught the attention of yet another divorcee, Molly Ramsay-Hill and the two moved to Oserian in Nakuru County.

Unfortunately, Lady Erroll passed on in 1939. Lord Erroll then set his eyes on Diana Coldwell the wife of Jock Broughton, a wealthy baron who he met at an affluent golf club in the country. 

Despite being introduced by Broughton, the two reportedly saw each other behind his back. Their relationship soon became public, embarrassing the diplomat.

The alleged infidelity ended in loss of a life. Lord Erroll was taken down at the Ngong Road junction as he was driving home in the early morning of January 1941 by unknown assailants.