Nakuru's Milele Resort leased to Chinese company

Milele Resort, a former hospitality establishment, has now been handed over to a Chinese company under a two-year lease arrangement, with the transformation already visibly underway.

According to information gathered from sources familiar with the premises, the lease agreement took effect on February 20, marking a significant shift in the hotel's operations.

The establishment, formerly catering to leisure guests, has been repurposed to house over 70 Chinese nationals said to be part of the workforce earmarked for the ambitious Rironi–Mau Summit Highway project.

The shift in ownership has not gone unnoticed, as fresh coats of paint have been applied to the exterior of the buildings, giving the resort a noticeably different appearance from what regular patrons once knew.

Alongside the repainting works, new enclosures and barriers have gone up around the perimeter, effectively sealing the compound from casual access and increasing privacy.

According to the sources, the interior of the resort is also being reconfigured to serve as accommodation for the workers, with the facilities now functioning more as a residential camp than a tourist or leisure facility.

Sources indicate that the workers will be based at the resort for the duration of their involvement in the highway project, which is expected to be a long-term undertaking given the scale of the Rironi–Mau Summit corridor.

The Rironi–Mau Summit Highway is among Kenya's key road infrastructure projects, aimed at improving connectivity along a critical transport corridor.

As of now, no official statement has been issued by the resort's original management or the Chinese firm regarding the terms of the arrangement. The physical changes to the property, however, speak for themselves with a new signage board, and only the dry cleaners and laundry premises are still under the hotel management.