High-Profile Hotels Placed Under Receivership and Administration in 2025 and 2026

Several prominent hotels in Kenya have faced financial difficulties in recent years, prompting lenders to appoint receivers, or administrators, as they seek to recover outstanding debts and protect their interests.

Although the two processes are related to corporate insolvency, receivership and administration are not the same.

A receiver is appointed to take control of a company’s assets or business on behalf of a secured creditor, mainly to preserve and realise those assets and recover an outstanding debt, while administration involves an administrator taking control of a company’s affairs, business, and property under the insolvency framework.

Top Kenyan Hotels Placed Under Receivership and Administration

According to reports, hotels across Kenya have come under receivership or administration in 2025 and 2026, with the developments affecting properties in Nairobi, Kisii, Nyeri, and the Coast regions. 

The following are luxury hotels that have been affected between 2025 and 2026.

1) Glee Hotel

This is a 211-room luxury hotel owned by businesswoman Mary Wambui that was placed under administration after Equity Bank Kenya appointed an insolvency practitioner to take control of Glee Hotel Limited in an effort to recover Ksh 8.267 billion loan.

Also Read: Mary Wambui: Inside Her Business Empire, Political Influence and the Multi-Billion Glee Hotel Crisis

Following the appointment, the directors’ powers over the hotel’s assets were suspended as Creditors were given 30 days to lodge their claims, while a statement of affairs was required within 12 days.

However, despite the financial strains, the hotel is still operating and is known for its accommodation, dining facilities, event spaces, and other premium services.

2) Eastland Hotel 

This is a four-star property located in Nairobi’s Kilimani area that was placed under receivership by Equity Bank in September 2025 over an undisclosed debt.

According to a notice dated September 11, 2025, Equity Bank appointed Kamal Anantroy Bhatt and Jai Kamal Bhatt of Anant Bhatt LLP as joint receivers and managers of Eastland Hotel Limited to oversee the hotel’s affairs.

3) Upper Hill Hotel

Earlier, before the administration of Eastland Hotel, the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) placed Nairobi Upper Hill Hotel under receivership on August 18, 2025.

NBK appointed Kamal Anantroy Bhatt of Anant Bhatt LLP as receiver and manager after the owner, businessman Geoffrey Wahome Muotia, failed to clear its outstanding loan of Ksh447 million, which dated back to 2014.

Also Read: Largest and Most Luxurious Hotels and Restaurants in Murang’a

Meanwhile, this was a way for the bank to make efforts to recover the outstanding amount.

4) Nyakoe Hotel 

Elsewhere, in August 2025, NBK also placed Nyakoe Hotel in Kisii under receivership over an undisclosed debt.

The decision followed a long-running disagreement between the bank and the hotel’s management regarding the unpaid amount.

As a result, NBK appointed Kamal Anantroy Bhatt of Anant Bhatt LLP as the receiver, giving him control over the hotel’s business and affairs.

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A photo showing the Eastland Hotel that was placed under receivership. Photo/Courtesy