The Ambassadeur Hotel, one of Nairobi’s most recognizable landmarks, has long stood at the heart of the Central Business District (CBD), next to the Kencom Building and the bustling Kenya Bus Service (KBS) bus stop, opposite the National Archives.

Founded in 1961 by former Kirinyaga Central MP John Ngata Kariuki and Gurcharan Singh Vohra, the Ambassadeur Hotel quickly became a symbol of elegance and prestige in post-independence Nairobi.

In 2004, the ownership of the establishment changed hands when businessman Samuel Maina acquired it through his firm, Ambassadeur Investments Kenya Limited.

Though details of the transaction remain private, Maina retained ownership until his death, marking an era of vast expansion in his business empire.

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Maina’s Expanding Real Estate Empire

Beyond the Ambassadeur Hotel, Maina was a major player in Kenya’s property scene.

His portfolio included Bilmas Hotel in Nairobi’s CBD, several flats and shops in Nairobi and Murang’a, and an Oil Libya petrol station in Spring Valley.

He also owned a house and shop in Mlango Kubwa, a stall in Kibera Market, a bungalow in Buruburu, and a building in Murang’a’s Gikoe Shopping Centre.

Reports also indicate that godowns in Athi River were registered under his company’s name, painting a picture of a businessman deeply invested in the real estate and hospitality sectors.

Court Battle Over Ambassadeur Hotel

Following Maina’s death, a bitter succession battle erupted among his heirs over control of the multi-billion-shilling estate, with the Ambassadeur Hotel at the center of contention.

In January 2017, four brothers, Francis Chege, Joseph Macharia, James Kihara, and Dedan Muthaiga, moved to court against their siblings John Kaguma, Stanley Kariuki, and Charles Kanyunga, accusing them of sidelining them from family business operations and profits.

The petitioners claimed their brothers had unilaterally appointed Paragon Property Consultants to collect rent without consensus, prompting a 2012 court order that placed Lloyd Masika Limited in charge of managing the family’s nine properties until the dispute was resolved.

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Leasing Controversy

In a subsequent twist, the family feud deepened when the petitioners objected to Lloyd Masika’s decision to lease the ground floor of the Ambassadeur Hotel to Mobitel Express in November 2016.

They argued the space should have gone to Jaydis Investments Limited instead.

However, the accused brothers countered that the complainants were not shareholders in Ambassadeur Investments Kenya Limited and therefore had no legal standing in its management.

The court later directed Justice Joseph Mutava to appoint a new asset manager after both sides failed to agree on one, signaling yet another chapter in a prolonged legal battle over one of Nairobi’s most historic properties.

The ruling required all rental income to be deposited into a joint account managed jointly by representatives from both sides and Lloyd Masika.

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The Ambassadeur Hotel in Nairobi’s CBD. PHOTO/ Ambassadeur