Mention Naivasha, and flowers immediately come to mind. Its high temperatures, volcanic soil and plenty of fresh water from Lake Naivasha have not only propelled the area but Kenya into the flower garden of Europe, raking in Sh80 billion [778 million USD] a year.
But growth in the meetings industry worldwide is increasingly attracting investors to Naivasha wanting to cash in on its climate and proximity to Nairobi.
This has transformed what used to be a dusty town, 90 kilometres west of Nairobi, into a tourism destination.
Today, the number of hotels and resorts next to the lake has outnumbered flower farms and Naivasha has become a perfect weekend getaway for Nairobi’s burgeoning middle class.