Over time, guesthouses, Airbnbs and lodgings, all intended to be places of rest, have been perceived as places that promote promiscuity.

With this foresight, the late Jeremiah Kibe Muriu together with his wife Agnes Gachiku Kibe, founded Muriu's Guest House.

In a bid to hinder promiscuity within their business' premises, the founding couple devised a smart way to decide which guests book rooms at their guest house.

Muriu guest house only admits married couples.

Photo credit: DILIGENCE ODONGO/MTAA WANGU

For any couple that wishes to check into a room here, they are required to provide evidence of marriage.

This evidence can either be a marriage certificate or national IDs with matching names, backed up by wedding bands.

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While speaking to Mtaa Wangu, the guest house manager Racheal Kibe shares, “We have a strict policy for a couple to produce evidence of marriage before checking in. This rule is actually based on our strict Christian background.”

On top of the provision of evidence of marriage before checking in, guests are barred from entering the premises past midnight.

Another interesting thing about this guesthouse is the prohibition of alcoholic beverages within the premises.

Racheal, who is the daughter to the founders shares that these strict rules are influenced by her parents' staunch Christian values.

“My parents, who were a bit old-school, envisioned a guest house that offered a pure Christian environment which was lacking in the accommodation market,” Racheal highlights.

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As a result of this bold leap of faith made by the late Jeremiah, the guest house has curved out a name for itself in the accommodation industry, quickly becoming a favourite for guests that uphold the same Christian values.

Although, these strict Christian guidelines set the guest house apart, they are the very thing that have been a challenge to the business.

In relation to this, Racheal shares, “We don’t receive as much check-ins as our competitors due to our strict guidelines. Still, we don’t regret choosing to run our business as a Christian establishment.

Racheal adds that even as she intends to pass the business down to the children, she will encourage them to run the business based on these very values.

diligenceodongo@gmail.com

A Nakuru hotel that admits married couples only

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Diligence Odongo