For celebrated law scholar Makau Mutua and his wife Athena Harris Mutua, life as full professors meant moving from country to country in respect of their scholarly vocations.
In 2013, however the last of the Mutua children moved out of the house, a matter that prompted the two to consider a move back to the country to start life anew.
This kickstarted a process to build a five-bedroomed house that Mutua dreamed would accommodate his wife, himself, three sons and his prospective grandchildren after they moved back to the country.
This dream to take advantage of the changing political landscape and build a permanent base in the country turned into what came to be known as the Kitui Villa hotel, according to its website.
With the five-bedroomed structure taking shape, however, the Mutuas' found the place to be too beautiful to have a house and instead chose to have a hotel so that all interested parties would be allowed to partake in the beauty.
The hotel was to be so unique that the Mutuas' decided to make its construction a family affair and the materials to be used in the process to be sourced from the region and its neighboring environs.
"Makau’s brother Musyoka Mutua became the main contractor for the project and his brother Pius Mutua became the primary accountant for it. It became a family affair! Makau’s other brothers, Clement and Michael pitched in.
"They monitored and tidied the grounds, while Makau’s sister, Samira, his wife, Athena and his sisters-in-law (Florence and Mercy) began brainstorming colors and effects," the website reads.
The hotel's website further adds that the gray stones used in the construction of the restaurant were sourced from Mazeras, Kilifi County, as well as the floorings and walkways.
The woodwork, including the conference table made of mahogany wood was designed at a furniture store in Kitui town, alongside the glass doors and windows.
CCTV cameras and the hotel computing systems were all sourced from a supplier in the county as well as local masons, construction workers, electricians, landscapers, plumbers, tilers who worked on the construction.
The restaurant is complete with conference facilities, a bar, a heated swimming pool, wifi, hot showers, conference facilities and boasts of satellite TVs, a library, an air-conditioned setting, a modern gym, and a children's pool connected with the adult's pool.
It was officially opened by the ODM leader Raila Odinga on July 10, 2018, in the presence of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kitu Governor Charity Ngilu and a host of other political leaders.
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