Nairobi, Kenya, 13th May, 2026 — The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), in celebration of its 25 years of existence as a leading pan-African research institution headquartered in Nairobi, marked its milestone by launching a new meetings and conference wing at Ulwazi Place in Kitisuru. Ulwazi Place prides itself on being a fully integrated destination for meetings, conferencing, and events within the APHRC campus. This strengthens Nairobi’s role as a hub for regional meetings and professional convenings. According to the Economic Survey 2026, the tourism industry’s performance in 2025 showed that tourist arrivals grew by 6.2%. There were 2.5 million tourists who visited Kenya in 2025, of which 47.8% came for holiday, while 25% came for business.
Giving the keynote speech at the APHRC celebration, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation, congratulated APHRC for the launch of the new hotel wing: “Ulwazi Place is therefore not simply a physical structure; it is a platform for ideas. It is a meeting point for scholars, innovators, policymakers, and young leaders. It is a space where research will inform action, where collaboration will inspire innovation, and where African solutions will emerge to address African challenges.”
Left to right: Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) with Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation; during the launch of Ulwazi Place II hotel- managed by Trianum Hospitality, during APHRC’s 25th anniversary celebrations in Nairobi.
According to Mutheu Muna-Mwaniki, Director-Compliance at Trianum Hospitality, the hospitality management firm at the Ulwazi Place, “The Ulwazi Place was originally established by APRHC and has transitioned from a small meeting site that could accommodate about 60 pax to a major international conference hub capable of hosting 1,000+ guests. The facility distinguishes itself through specialized collaboration spaces designed to foster scientific innovation and research within a peaceful, landscaped environment. By offering versatile event capacities and high-end amenities at Ulwazi, Trianum aims to support Kenya’s national goal of increasing international tourism through the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). The new wing of Ulwazi Place provides an opportunity to shift towards specialised hospitality products that cater to diplomats, scientists, and large corporate gatherings.
‘Ulwazi’ whose name is derived from the Zulu word for “a place of knowledge,” was built to serve the training and accommodation needs of APHRC, Africa’s premier research institution and think tank. In a bid to hold to APHRC’s spirit of championing the African continent, the design narrative is centered on showcasing the culture and traditions of the four biomes of Africa: savanna, tropics, deserts, and coast through a design theme dubbed “Tembea Africa,” which, translated in Swahili, means “Travel across Africa.”
Speaking at the launch event, APHRC Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Gichuru, says, “The APHRC convening facility, Ulwazi Place is a place of knowledge; serving as a hub for global stakeholders to address African development. The strategic expansion of the hotel will now enable us to have more convenings here and to shape the agenda for development in Africa directly from this facility. This allows for seamless onsite interactions and collaborations between visiting experts and resident knowledge creators. Previously the size of the facility was limited, but now we will be able to interact with our stakeholders without having to move people to outsourced lodging and meeting spaces which was fragmenting the collaborative process.”
Ulwazi Place has added a new wing to enable knowledge exchange and institutional events. The new wing will have a total capacity of 1,000+ guests and will provide functional space for delegates to meet, stay, dine, and network in various setting spaces such as
· Ballroom (up to 300 pax)
· Rooftop Event Space (up to 400 pax)
· Conference rooms (up to 120 pax and 45 pax)
· Boardrooms and collaboration spaces
· On-site accommodation
· Restaurant and social spaces.
· Meeting rooms for business gatherings and workshops
· Scapes Restaurant, with indoor, balcony, and poolside dining
· Expansive gardens suited for intimate outdoor events and celebrations
· Complimentary fitness center and outdoor swimming pool
As the country moves to diversify well beyond the safari circuit into luxury conferences and cultural travel to drive growth across tourism segments, Kenya aims to attract 5.5 million international visitors annually by 2027 as part of a new strategy dubbed ‘Experience Wonder’ led by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife in partnership with stakeholders leveraging collaboration to drive growth across tourism segments, particularly Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), as well as wellness, sports, and digital nomad tourism.
Left to Right: Ulwazi Place Interior and exterior
According to Liza Uku, Chief Executive Officer at Trianum, “We are excited to be launching the new wing of Ulwazi Place, which is located at one of the upmarket suburbs in Nairobi, with proximity to the United Nations and other diplomatic organisations. Trianum Hospitality management leverages operational efficiency by enhancing the value of the properties we manage. By benchmarking international hospitality standards and systems, we maintain high customer service standards as we focus on our clients’ comfort and rest, hence enabling great minds to come together to make amazing solutions.
Managed by East Africa’s Hospitality Experts
Ulwazi is managed by Trianum Hospitality, East Africa’s leading independent hospitality management company with over 15 years of experience operating hotel apartments, boutique hotels, and vacation properties.
Trianum brings:
· Deep local market understanding
· Consistent operational standards
· A warm, service-forward guest experience
About Trianum Hospitality
Trianum Hospitality is East Africa’s leading independent hospitality management firm, celebrating 15 years of delivering trusted operational management across hotel apartments, boutique hotels, and vacation homes. Trianum focuses on service excellence, consistent guest experience, and strong performance delivery.
About APHRC
APHRC is a leading pan-African research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, that conducts high quality policy-relevant research on population, health, education, urbanization and related development issues across Africa. APHRC actively engages policymakers and other key stakeholders to achieve measurable policy impacts and ensure decision making across the continent is informed by rigorous evidence-based research.
For more information visit https://trianum.co.ke/ulwazi-place-by-trianum/
Or Contact
Mary Gitari|Brandspark PR|
Email: Mary.Gitari@Brandspark.co.ke|254 07022224972
Catherine Mungai, Marketing Manager| Trianum Hospitality|