Governor Kihika visits Akinyi’s Tule Kienyeji restaurant after viral appeal

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika on Thursday visited Tule Kienyeji restaurant following a widely shared social media video by its owner, Harriet Akinyi, appealing for support to keep the business running.

The restaurant, located along Maasai Avenue in Nakuru’s Central Business District, had been in operation for about three months when Akinyi shared a video describing financial difficulties affecting the enterprise.

In the clip, Akinyi said she was struggling to meet daily operational costs and had appealed to the public for assistance.

The video circulated widely on social media platforms, drawing public attention to the challenges faced by small businesses.

During the visit, Governor Kihika was received by staff and customers at the establishment. She greeted employees and patrons before sitting down to order a meal.

The governor later engaged Akinyi in a discussion about the business, its challenges and possible ways forward.

In her video, Akinyi said she had invested more than Sh1 million in the restaurant, including construction, equipment, furnishings and stock, but said customer turnout had remained low.

She also stated that her available funds had been depleted, prompting her to consider selling the business assets at a reduced price in order to meet her obligations.

Following the video’s circulation, the restaurant attracted increased public interest, with residents visiting the premises to purchase meals and express support.

Several community members were seen patronising the establishment, while others delivered food supplies to help restock the restaurant.

Some customers said they were motivated to visit after seeing the appeal online, while others described the food as affordable and well-prepared.

One resident, identified only as Loice, said she visited the restaurant after watching the video on social media and felt compelled to support a local entrepreneur.

A bodaboda rider was also seen offering free transport to customers heading to the restaurant from various parts of Nakuru.