The Encore Effect, James Mokaya on Nakuru's Rise as a MICE Hub

James Mokaya, MICE Lead at The Encore Hotel in Nakuru, is driving efforts to establish the newly opened five-star property as a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions hub for Kenya's Rift Valley. MICE Diary Africa sat down with Mokaya to discuss the facility and his approach to growing its events business. The Encore Hotel opened this year in Nakuru's Milimani area, near State House and along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. The property has 205 rooms, 23 meeting rooms, a 500-seat auditorium and conference infrastructure that can accommodate up to 1,500 delegates. It also features a grand ballroom and a 3,500 square metre events garden. Mokaya brings more than 20 years of hospitality management experience to the role. He has been engaging tourism stakeholders and industry partners to promote what organizers call Destination Nakuru, including outreach tied to the Africa MICE Expo 2026 at the Sarit Expo Centre. In the interview, Mokaya speaks on the hotel's MICE offering, his strategy for attracting corporate and association events, and his outlook for the Rift Valley's business events sector.