What should have been a moment of prestige has instead become a cautionary tale—one that places Safari Park Hotel under scrutiny
Nairobi’s reputation as a hub for world-class conferences and events took a blow when international journalists reported harassment at Safari Park Hotel, one of the city’s most recognizable establishments.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, a security officer—identified only as “Kip”—allegedly confronted and intimidated journalists who were on assignment to cover an event hosted at the venue. The officer is said to have used aggressive language and is known to bully journalists obstructing the press severally from carrying out their duties many failing to do their jobs in the process.
The incident has sparked outrage within journalistic with the news spreading like wild fire among journalistic circles with some threatening to publish their experience at the hotel. Several correspondents expressed concern that such hostility undermines commitment to media freedom and dents the hotel’s image as a destination for international business and tourism.
“This kind of treatment is unacceptable,” one European journalist noted. “We came here to cover an important event, not to be harassed. A five-star establishment should know better.”
Safari Park, long regarded as a flagship hotel for high-profile conferences, now faces growing criticism. Journalists warn that unchecked security misconduct risks eroding the hotel’s brand value as journalists and their experiences shape public opinion.A single security officer’s misconduct, if left unaddressed, can damage years of positioning reputation building of a hotel.”
Journalists familiar with the venue allege that he has a long history of harassing and lying about members of the press. What was once whispered in media circles has now exploded into the open, with his latest misconduct against international correspondents thrusting Safari Park Hotel into a global spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Instead of being remembered as Kenya’s flagship conference hub, the hotel now risks being branded as hostile, unprofessional, and unsafe for journalists.