April 10th, 2009
By Jeff Otieno in Kenya
The management of Magnificent Kisumu Hotel has been challenged to promptly intervene and salvage the hotel clients who are at the mercy of idlers and information peddlers operating under the flagship “The summit”
The group which comprises hawkers, retirees and political hirelings are said to have pitched camp at the hotel every evening strategically positioned to harass clients.
Those who fail to conform to their demands are being black mailed by the entrenched cartel.
“It’s surprising that we have informed the management about these idlers who don’t even buy a glass of water during their marathon scavenging spree in vain”, confided a lady waiter.
Leading the parck is a mono eyed hawker operating inside Kenyatta sports ground.
Sources told this journalist that this hawker has perfected the art of extortion and blackmail to an extent that potential clients who fail to succumb to his schemes have now decided to ditch the hotel for other alternative places.
He claims to be highly connected in the corridors of power both in the provincial administration and political arena.
“One of the supervisors is said to be related to one of these cartel members nowander the special treatment,” confided an elderly waiter.
The hotel which is managed by Maseno University is one of the leading outfits in the region for both local and domestic tourists.
It will be interesting to see how the no nonsense vice chancellor Fredrick Onyango will crack whip on these con-artists. The VC is credited for transforming the University to vibrant status since he took over a couple of years ago.
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