Development Dreams and Uncertain Realities

By William Kiptoo

 In 2011, Sergoit grabbed national headlines when plans for the Sergoit Golf and Wildlife Resort were unveiled. Marketed as a game-changing project, it was pitched as Kenya’s first true “sports city.” Investors promised a five-star hotel, championship golf courses, an athletics track to build on Eldoret’s reputation as the home of champions, a private airstrip, and luxury residential estates. Conservation was also part of the package, with a wildlife sanctuary integrated into the development. 

The project generated enormous hype. Land prices in the area surged, and locals were told to expect jobs, infrastructure, and global attention. At the time, even rumors circulated that the Kruger family, long-time farmers around Sergoit, would exit Kenya after selling large tracts of land to developers.

But more than a decade later, the dream has stalled. The grand masterplans and promotional pitches have given way to silence. No golf course, no hotel, no airstrip. Instead, the Kruger family remains firmly rooted in the area, continuing with their large-scale farming operations much as they always have.

Adding to the uncertainty, the recent relocation of Rothschild giraffes from Sergoit to another facility sparked speculation. For some, it was a routine conservation measure. For others, it was interpreted as a sign that the much-hyped resort had quietly lost steam, leaving the sanctuary’s future in doubt. In the absence of official communication, the vacuum has been filled with rumor and unease.

Photo by Sergoit Gold and Wildlife resort