It is no secret that the family of the country's founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta wields power and influence if history is anything to go by.
Throughout the years, the family has risen to enviable status due to their immense wealth and investments which span various sectors such as banking, hospitality, real estate and dairy among others.
Jomo served the country for 14 years while his son, Uhuru, served for two terms as the country's fourth president - further cementing the family's dominance in the political scene.
Among the property owned by the Kenyatta family include the Heritage Hotel East Africa which prides itself as one of Kenya's leading safari companies with over three decades of experience.
The company owns a chain of hotels including the Voyager Resort in Mombasa, Voyager Ziwani Camp in Tsavo, Intrepids in Samburu and Maasai Mara as well as the Great Rift Valley lodge in Naivasha.
Mara Explorer Camp and Kipungani Explorer in Lamu island are also part of the Heritage brand.
"Heritage is renowned for the blue-ribbon offering for today’s discerning travellers, including premier class services, optional "extras" and good relations with neighbouring communities, while always committed to nurturing and protecting the fragile eco-system," read part of the profile on the company's site.
Over the years, the Kenyatta family has relied on top-tier talent in the hotel industry to steer the company as its top executives.
Renowned hotelier David Stogdale took over the helm as the company's Managing Director from January 1997 to December 2008 before exiting to join Vipingo Ridge as a Marketing Consultant.
At the time, the Kenyatta family tapped Mohammed Hersi - an acclaimed hotelier who steered Sarova Hotels Kenya through difficult times and had amassed over 10 years of experience at the hotel.
Seeking to set the ground running, Hersi noted that he planned on expanding the Heritage brand to Nairobi in a bid to tap into the market of the growing business venture.
“At the moment we do not have any unit in Nairobi but we are planning to set one up because the city has become a hub for global multinationals seeking to set up regional offices which have now attracted investments by many international hotel chains,” Hersi stated as quoted by the Business Daily.
Four years later, Hersi exited the company to join Sun Africa Hotels.
Over the years, Heritage Hotels Limited has scooped various awards including the World Travel Awards in 2018 and 2019 under the category of Kenya's leading safari companies.
To date, the Heritage brand is revered for offering premier-class services in the hotel industry.
