Oserian
| Oserian | |
|---|---|
| Town/City | Lake Naivasha, Nakuru County |
| Country | Kenya |
| Established | 1969 |
| Produces | Geothermal and solar energy |
Oserian (Masai, "Place of Peace") is a large area of land on the south shores of Lake Naivasha, Nakuru County, Kenya.[1] Oserian's wildlife corridor is more than 1.6 km (1 mi) in width and reaches the lake. It occupies more than 6 km (4 mi) of shoreline.[2]
History
[edit]One of the significant landmarks in area is the Gin Palace (later, Djinn Palace) which was originally a country estate, the Moorish-style mansion was built in 1927 by Major Cyril Ramsay-Hill,[3] a rancher, former officer in an Indian regiment, and sometime Hollywood actor. It was based on his grandmother's home in Seville, Spain.[4] The crenellated and domed building features minarets, and contains an "inner courtyard, fountains, squash court, swimming pool, and polo grounds".[5]
During the colonial era, the Djinn Palace was "where things usually were very lively" for the Happy Valley set, according to Ulf Aschan.[6] It was built for Ramsay-Hill's wife, Molly (née Edith Mildred Maude; 1893–1939), who had an affair with and later married Josslyn Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll.
In 1969, Oserian was established as a small vegetable growing farm.[7] In 1982, it became the first flower farm on Lake Naivasha and was once one of the largest flower farms in the world.[8] The flower farm and its business was divested in 2021 to Bohemian Flowers.[9][10]
Oserian's first geothermal power plant was a binary plant commissioned in 2004 followed in 2007 by the construction and commissioning of a second geothermal power station. The reorganisation of Oserian resulted in its primary business now being energy production (geothermal and solar energy).[11][12]
Further reading
[edit]- Charles Hayes, Oserian – Place of Peace, Rima Publications, 1997 (ISBN 9780969426523).
References
[edit]- ^ Davis, Art (19 December 2011). From Foot Safaris to Helicopters: 100 Years of the Davis Family in Missions. iUniverse. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4620-6761-9.
- ^ Coglianese, Cary; Nash, Jennifer (2001). Regulating from the Inside: Can Environmental Management Systems Achieve Policy Goals?. Resources for the Future. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-891853-41-8.
- ^ Huxley, Elspeth (8 June 2011). Out in the Midday Sun. Random House. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-4464-7581-2.
- ^ Architectural Digest. John C. Brasfield Publishing Corporation. 1999. p. 122.
- ^ Davenport-Hines, Richard. "Happy Valley set (act. 1924–1941)". Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Aschan, Ulf (1987). The Man Whom Women Loved. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 142-143. ISBN 9780312022495.
- ^ "Oserian Wildlife Lodges / About Us". oserianwildlife.com.
- ^ "Oserian Farms". BloomQuest. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Woodward, Christopher (13 February 2013). "This Kenyan Boomtown Is Getting Rich on Roses". Business Insider.
- ^ "CAK approves buyout of flower firm Oserian". Business Daily. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Premier Solar Group". premiersolargroup.com. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Oyugi, Zablon (10 May 2019). "Oserian Development Company launches solar plant to power operations – News and knowhow for farmers". Retrieved 21 July 2024.