1. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta owned a home in Bamburi where he escaped to, from State House, Mombasa, when he was on a tour of the coast.
2. He relaxed here and enjoyed the Indian Ocean breeze with minimal security around him.
3. He loved Njahi, citrus fruits, coconut trees, flowers and goats which were all brought to Bamburi.
4. Whenever he was in Bamburi, government officials always refused (in writing) to pay Kenyatta’s private bills and billed him for any service rendered to him.
5. The keys to the house were usually kept by Kenyatta’s private secretary and State House Comptroller, Eliud Mathu.
6. Kenyatta wanted a borehole at the compound to provide water for his gardens. The government chemist however, reported that the water was “excessively hard, salty, and organically unsatisfactory. Unless an alternative supply is available the supply should be softened, filtered and sterilised before use for domestic purposes.”
7. Once Kenyatta finished building some villas in Bamburi too, he rented some to his friends. But they had to use a side entrance to the Bamburi Farm from Ocean View Hotel.
Some of the friends were Joseph Murumbi and Mr J Bambridge who leased the property from August 21, 1966 to August 20, 1967.
8. Due to security and privacy of the president, Dr Njuguna Gakuo, the East African Railways and Harbours General Manager and father of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta had once been refused entry.
Gakuo had been taken to view one of Kenyatta's cottage rented by the railways for his use.
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