History
The first beer to be brewed in a factory in Kenya was produced in 1922 in small copper vessels heated by firewood. It was bottled by hand and the first order of ten cases personally delivered to the General Manager of the Stanley Hotel, now Sarova Stanley, in Nairobi. Although the hotel had…
A Journey to Sagrada Familia: An Architectural Marvel That Redefines Majesty By Pauline Njoroge for Makao Bora Blog Having visited some of the world’s most renowned cathedrals, including the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, I thought I’d seen the pinnacle of architectural and artistic brilliance. I genuinely believed no other…
In his final interview, the legendary broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela shared the unexpected origin story of his iconic radio show, “Je, Huu ni Ungwana?” (Is This Good Manners?). The setting was the prestigious Panafric Hotel in Nairobi, a haunt for the elite, where Mbotela and his colleagues had settled in for a weekend drink. …
Nestled at the junction of Ngong’ Road and Raila Odinga Road, Nairobi City Mortuary has served as the epicenter for death care in Kenya’s bustling capital for over a century. This institution, once known for its grim reputation, has evolved significantly, reflecting Nairobi’s own transformation from a colonial railway town to a modern metropolis. …
General Joseph Ndolo, the first Kenyan Chief of General Staff (CGS), was not just a military leader but also the mastermind behind a daring coup plot against President Jomo Kenyatta in 1971. The plan was audacious: to assassinate Kenyatta and install Chief Justice Kitili Mwendwa, Kenya’s first indigenous Chief Justice, as the new president….
Mar-a-Lago in 1985: A 126-room mansion that no one wanted. Donald Trump then acquired it for $7 million, an estate that initially drained finances for years. However, Trump’s visionary approach transformed it into a lucrative venture, raking in $40 million annually. The Legacy of Mar-a-Lago: Originally constructed in the 1920s by Marjorie…
Nestled on Kimathi Street in the heart of Nairobi’s bustling CBD, the Nation Centre stands as buth a landmark and a testament to cultural inspiration. This building, with its striking design, has caught the eyes of many, not just for its functionality but for its unique embodiment of traditional African aesthetics. Back in the mid-1990s…
In the corridors of power in Kenya, certain individuals have emerged who wield influence far beyond their official titles. Two such figures, though from different eras, share striking similarities in their roles and impact on the presidencies they served: Farouk Kibet under President William Ruto and Wanyoike Thungu during the time of President Jomo Kenyatta….
It seems that just about every sizeable city in Europe enjoyed a heyday as an economic powerhouse at some point in its history. Bruges’ time was from the 12th to the 15th centuries, when its coastal location and canal system made it one of the most important commercial centres of the continent. Today, the Renaissance-era…
It was the original home of Allsopps Pilsner and White Cap. It was built in 1938 by Taylor and Company Brewery. Taylor and Company Brewery was the main competitor to Kenya Breweries, which had been established in Nairobi’s Ruaraka plains in 1922 by George and Charles Hurst — the two brothers who were initially based…
Here’s the intriguing story of how this savvy businessman turned his dreams into billions. Gerald Gikonyo, a legendary figure in Kenya’s business world, dominated the scene for decades. From rags to riches, Gikonyo’s journey is truly awe-inspiring. Back in the 1930s, Gikonyo had his sights set on Nairobi, determined to provide for his family. Alongside…
On February 16, 1990, the body of Foreign Affairs minister Dr Robert Ouko – who had been missing for four days following a trip with then President Daniel arap Moi to the USA – was found, mutilated and burnt, in a thicket near Got Alila Hill, four kilometres from his Koru home, in Nyanza. …
Until recent pase, Kenya’s Boni forest was an oasis of peace occupied by the Aweer, a nomadic hunter-gatherer community. The poor, sandy soils and unreliable rainfall rendered this dry lowland forest on Africa’s east coast unsuitable for agriculture, and the ubiquitous tsetse fly meant pastoralists were averse to grazing their cows or camels in this…
Kenyatta House located in Maralal, Samburu County in Northern Kenya is a simple house; yet, it holds a lot of historical significance to Kenya’s independence and governance. The three bedroom bungalow is where Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s founding father and first president, was partly held in detention by the British colonial government after being transferred…
Located in Nyeri, about a 3 hour drive from the capital Nairobi, Treetops lodge is famous both locally and internationally. The tree house lodge is located in Aberdare National Park, and it is in this house where Queen Elizabeth II was declared the queen at only 25 years old, following the demise of her father….
Skyscrapers, concrete behemoths, and monumental architectures aren’t technological marvels peculiar to the modern world. Since the first man began using sticks and stone as weapons, innumerable human inventiveness has given birth to some famous architectural creations that even many modern marvels cannot compare. The most spectacular of these recorded achievements have come to be recognized…
The older part of the Kenyan parliament building resembles the Houses of Parliament in London. Besides featuring visible similarities, such as a clock tower like Big Ben, there are also some hidden ones. It was built by the Freemasons. Also, the building’s foundation stone, which had been recovered from the ruins of Westminster Palace after…
1.Mbotela Estate Named after Tom Mbotela who was a councilor in the city before independence. He was killed by the Mau Mau in 1952. He was an uncle to Leonard Mambo Mbotela. 2.Mathare Before Kenya’s independence, Asians owned the area now known as Mathare, a village dating back to the year 1921….
Tht day in September, an ugly incident occurred at Luanda Kotieno beach in Kisumu. A vehicle belonging to Agriculture minister Sally Kosgey was ordered off a ferry headed for Mbita Point, to give room for Ida Odinga’s motorcade of three cars. The minister, just like Ida, was heading to Rusinga Island to attend the burial…
In a quick rejoinder Mzee Jomo Kenyatta responded, “Nitatuma ndege mbili tu, na hazitakuwa zimekujs kusalimia nyanya yako” Ugandan President Al-Haji Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada attempted to redraw the boundaries of the two countries. Amin wanted back all Kenyan districts that were part of Uganda before the colonial re-demarcation of the territorial…
