Naivasha’s ambition to become a premier tourism resort city is edging closer to reality, backed by billions of shillings in investment in hotel and conference facilities and a surge in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) activities.
Chairman of the Nakuru Tourism Association, Elijah Mwangi, said the lakeside town, once home to only a handful of facilities a decade ago, now boasts tens of modern, internationally rated venues capable of hosting domestic, regional and international events.
“Naivasha has been placed on the world map largely by hosting the acclaimed World Safari Rally Championship and other local and international events, giving it a competitive edge in the industry,” said Mwangi.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Kenya Utalii College refresher course graduation ceremony held in Naivasha, Mwangi cited improved road infrastructure, favourable weather, the scenic Lake Naivasha, welcoming residents and roaming wildlife as key factors drawing visitors and event organisers to the town.
He added that growth in agri-tourism due to the area’s thriving horticulture sector and fishing activities on Lake Naivasha had further diversified the town’s business and tourism experiences.
Mwangi said that the sustained growth of domestic tourism had shielded the industry from international disruptions, like the current Middle East crisis, which helps propel the country towards its ambitious target of attracting 5.5 million tourists by 2027.
This comes after the release of the Tourism Sector Performance Report 2025, which indicated that the sector recorded strong growth in 2025, with international visitor arrivals increasing by nine per cent to 2.7 million, up from 2.47 million in 2024.
The report showed that Kenya received an estimated 7.9 million tourists during the year, including 2.7 million international visitors and 5.2 million domestic travellers.
The tourism sector generated Sh500 billion in revenue in 2025, a ten per cent jump from the 2024 data, indicating sustained growth since the slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MICE segment continues to emerge as a significant pillar of local tourism, with data showing that business events generated Sh120 billion in 2024, with a target of Sh200 billion set for 2027.
Mwangi lauded devolution for boosting the marketing of tourism sites nationally, which he said had helped counties earn billions of shillings in revenue.
However, he called for increased reinvestment of tourism levy funds into Nakuru County, given its significant contribution to the sector and to youth employment.
On his part, Kenya Utalii College Chief Executive Officer Mark Ogendi, who presided over the graduation of more than 200 industry workers, said the refresher programme was designed to enhance customer experience and elevate service delivery standards.
He added that the college would partner with county governments to strengthen human resource capacity, with training tailored for both local roles and international postings.
By Erastus Gichohi
