Popular music publicist Anyiko Owoko has come out to speak against the Giraffe Manor accusing the establishment of putting in place policies that block out Kenyans.
Anyiko blasted the management of the exclusive hotel in a long rant posted on Instagram after the Safari Collection – which owns the establishment – seemingly said they were opening “just for Kenyans.”
However, according to Anyiko, the Giraffe Manor only now needs Kenyans “because all your white rich guests can’t travel into your establishment because of the corona.”
The publicist went on to narrate an incident featuring a friend of hers with whom she had tried to book a stay at the hotel but was slapped with exorbitant rates.
“…we called your establishment to inquire if we could stay a night – there was no space available because you were booked out, completely understandable,” she wrote.
“But when we requested to come have breakfast and just see the giraffes we were slapped with an exorbitant rate [over 600 USD] which included a driver, chauffeur, airport transfer and a vehicle BUT when we requested to pay only for the breakfast and to see giraffes and not have to pay for the car and airport transfer because we are Kenyans and commuting from the city, your bookings department refused and said that we had to pay the full amount because it is your policy.”
She further urged fellow Kenyans to boycott the Giraffe Manor telling them they would not have been welcome there if it weren’t for the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anyiko told her fellow countrymen and women to instead visit the Nairobi National Park or the Maasai Mara which she commended for upholding the country’s heritage besides being relatively fair in their rates.
“For the longest time, your policy has been to have these type of pricing that only benefit non-Kenyans and tourists coming from outside Kenya. I wonder why all over sudden you are welcoming Kenyans into your establishment,” she added.
“Is it because you now need us for your business to survive? You would not have invited us had it not been for the fact that your business, just like all others, is suffering because of the Covid restrictions.”
https://www.instagram.com/anyikowoko/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_mid=7A7F1714-AA8B-41F3-9D1A-5F1939C974D1
Anyiko’s story has since evoked mixed reactions from Kenyans on social networking site Twitter:
It’s sad that it has taken a pandemic for @giraffe_manor to allow Kenyans visit the place!! How can you be racist yet you’re in our soil 🤬 Now that tourists have no access you’re suddenly open to us?! Lol Miss me with the BS! No more systematic racism #cancelgiraffemanor pic.twitter.com/7rnMV54N2D
— Lynn Ngugi (@missturu) June 6, 2020
Giraffe Manor wants you to pay for a breakfast package that includes airport transfers and you live in Nairobi and there's nothing wrong with that? It is very obvious who their target audience is.
— Wamathai (@Wamathai) June 7, 2020
You know I had to jump on this Giraffe Manor story!I tried to get a reservation for the mister's birthday in 2018 and was offered dates a year later.Then scrolling on SM then I remember seeing tourists that managed to "luckily" stay over and it wasn't on their planned itinerary pic.twitter.com/8EVtdaz4UD
— Wamuyu (@ItsWamzy) June 7, 2020
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