Accommodations
There are a number of options available to visitors when considering where to stay while in Nairobi. During a recent trip, I stayed in three of the most popular mission-affiliated guest houses so that I could make a direct comparison. All three provided clean rooms and can provide full board (3 meals/day) for guests.
The Presbyterian Church in East Africa’s Guest House is the newest of the three. Completed in 2005, it has about 80 rooms available. The rooms are small, but have a private bath and shower. Meals are served buffet-style in a nice dining room. Coffee, tea and water are generally available, and sodas can be purchased for 30KSh. Some rooms have TVs (though not many) and there are room-to-room telephones in each room. There is no internet access or easy access to public telephones on the property. The guest house is located in Nairobi’s “South C” district, which is a working class neighborhood in south central Nairobi. A large Mosque is situated right next door to the guest house and issues its salah, or call to prayer, five times a day, starting at 5:30am. Though I wasn’t bothered by it, the residents on the west side of the guest house might be. There is a YMCA across the street which offers telephone and internet access at a reasonable price.
The Methodist Guest House is located in the Lavington Green section of Nairobi. It is older than the PCEA guest house but offers more in the way of amenities. The rooms are slightly larger and are equipped with 13” TVs with 6 or 8 channels. There is internet access in the business center and public telephones available on the property. There is also a gift shop which sells a variety of small gift items along with calling cards for the public phone. The property is within walking distance from Yaya center, a western-style mall. There are a number of casual seating areas throughout the guest house where groups can gather for a devotional or to chat about the day’s highlights.
The Mennonite Guest House is a colonial era house located in the Westlands section of Nairobi. It is the oldest of the three properties, but also has the most character. Rooms vary in size from tiny single rooms that use a shared bath and shower, to a massive suite with a queen-size bed and two sets of bunk beds. All rooms have a telephone that can be used for local or international calls (pick up a calling card at the desk). There is a comfortable sitting room with satellite TV and a well stocked library. Also the reception area is open to guests until 11pm and has sodas, water and tea and a small assortment of snacks available. Meals are served family style on a prompt schedule. Breakfast is at 7:30am, and dinner at 6:30pm. They also offer tea on the patio at 10am and 4pm. The property is definitely the most picturesque and quiet of the three. There is a huge lawn and garden behind the house, and even a badminton net and tennis court. Internet connections are available, but you must have your own computer. Sarit Center, another western-style mall is located about a mile down the road.