Here are a few of the prominent wealthy families in Kenya as per 2021 records:
-
Kenyatta Family: The family of Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, has been associated with immense wealth. President Uhuru Kenyatta, Jomo Kenyatta’s son, is a part of this family. The Jomo Kenyatta family owns thousands of acres of land (est. 500,000 acres). The family keeps livestock and grows crops on their lands The Kenyatta family also owns blue chip companies such as NCBA Group PLC (Kenyatta family control shares worth Ksh. 6.6 billion), mining operations, airline, insurance, Brookside Daily Limited (milk processor with operations in 12 African nations), Timsales Holdings, Beta Healthcare, Peponi International Schools, real estate, Media Max (K24 TV, Milele FM, Kameme Radio, Mayian radio, K24 Digital, People Daily, Msenagu FM and Emoo FM), energy businesses and Heritage Group (Voyager camps, beach resorts, Great Rift Valley Lodge, Mara Explorer Camp, Kipungani in Lamu, Interpids camps, Golf Hotel in Naivasha). According to Pandora Papers the family has Ksh. 3.3 billion stashed in offshore accounts.
-
Moi Family: The family of Kenya’s second President, Daniel arap Moi, has also been prominent in business and politics, with substantial business interests. The Moi family has an estimated net-worth of Ksh. 335 billion. They own Kabarak University, Trans-National Bank, First American Bank, Equatorial Bank, Giro Bank, Equity Stock Brokers, Giant Forex Bureau and Sovereign Group. They also own Standard Group (KTN, KTN News, Standard Newspaper, The Nairobian, Standard Digital, Spice FM, Radio Maisha and Vybez FM), Millers Trustees Limited, S.N.G Holdings Limited, Trade World Kenya Ltd. In Transport industry (Signon Group, Kent Ship, Eagle Airlines, Car Track Kenya Ltd, Kenya Aerotech Ltd, shares in CMC Holdings). In real estate, Moi Family owns Regent Management, Kabarak residence, Kabarnet Gardens, a home in Lavington, a residence in Nakuru and Sielei Properties Ltd. In Agriculture, Moi Family owns Sian Roses, Kiptagich Tea Estate, Sasine Farms, Fresh Produce Ltd and Chemusian Company among others. In telecommunications, Moi family owns shares in Safaricom, Cable Wireless and Chesco Ltd. Moi family owns education institutions such as Sunshine National School, Moi Education Centre, Kabarak High School in Nakuru, Sacho High School and Kabarak University among others. Moi family has interests in hospitality such as Intercontinental Hotel, Sheraton Holdings and Safariland Club. Other companies owned by Moi family: Duty Free Company, Taurino Enterprises, Metipso Services Ltd, Giant Holdings Ltd, Hampstead Enterprises, Revak Ltd, Sudbury Investments, Sudbury Ltd, Eveready Ltd, Maternity Shop, Westfield International Ltd and owns thousands of acres of land in Ole Pajeta, Nakuru, Molo, Kabarak, Olenguruone and Bahati.
3. Naushad Merali Family: The Merali family, led by Naushad Merali, is known for its involvement in various sectors, including telecommunications, finance, and real estate. The family’s patriarch died in July 2021 at the age of 70 years old. Merali chaired Sameer Group. The family’s net-worth
4. Samuel Kamau Macharia Family: S. K. Macharia is a media mogul and the founder of Royal Media Services, which owns several popular media outlets in Kenya. This is the largest private radio and TV network in Kenya. He owns Citizen TV, Inooro TV, citizen radio, Inooro FM, Ramogi FM, Musyi FM, Hot 96, Chamgei FM, Egesa FM, Muuga FM, Bahati FM , Wimworo FM, Mulembe FM, Sulwe FM , Vuuka FM, Hot 96 and Viusasa. S.K. Macharia is also involved in other sectors such as agriculture, real estate, transport and banking among other investments. His media houses have a reach of 52 million users per month. Royal Media Services has a reach of 10 million radio listeners per day. His net worth is estimated to be KES 40 billion. S.K. Macharia also has interests in Directline Insurance, Big Five Conservancy, Harbour Capital Limited, Toi Redevelopment, Serenity Media Productions and Bushfire Media Distributors among others.
5. Michael Joseph Family: Michael Joseph and other early founders of Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, have accumulated significant wealth.
6. Vimal Shah Family: The owner of Bidco Africa, Vimal Shah, and his family have been successful in the manufacturing and consumer goods sector.
7. Chris Kirubi Family: Chris Kirubi, before his passing in 2021, was a prominent businessman with investments in real estate, media, and manufacturing. He had a net worth of Ksh. 20 billion. He bequeathed 80 percent of his wealth to his son Robert Kirubi and and daughter Mary Anne Kirubi. He also bequeathed Ksh. 500 million each to his four siblings. He gifted his second daughter Fiona Kirubi Ksh. 4 million. Fiona also received Ksh. 1.6 billion from her two siblings. Chris Kirubi had interests in media, technology, manufacturing and shares in unlisted companies valued at Ksh. 12.7 billion. He owned 4.5 million shares in Haco Industries at the time worth Ksh. 801 million. He owned International House Limited and Kiruma International Ltd worth Ksh. 1 billion. He held shares worth Ksh. 5.6 billion in Bendor Estates Limited. His land holdings was valued at Ksh. 3.1 billion. Chris Kirubi owned six high end cars such as 4 Mercedes Benz cars, Bentley Continental GT, and a Range Rover.
8. Narendra Raval Family: Narendra Raval, also known as Guru, is a Kenyan entrepreneur with interests in steel, cement, and other industries. Narendra Raval wealth is estimated to have been $500 million by 2015. The family business has interests in fertilizer blending, aviation and packaging. They invested in a wind power project which produces 65 Mega Watts of power. Narendra Raval started at Gekomba market where he used to run a hardware store.
9. Rai Family: The Rai family, owners of the Devki Group, have interests in steel, cement, timber, real estate, edible oils and horticulture. The family acquired Pan Paper Mills for Ksh. 900 million. Rai family also have business operations in Uganda and Tanzania. Jaswant Rai is the chairman of Rai Group of companies. Rai Cement was established in 2017 and is located along Kericho-Kisumu highway. The family’s Menengai Oil Refineries is located in Nakuru from where they manufacture soaps, cooking oil, fats, skin care products, baking powder and detergents among other products. Their brands include: Top Fry, Somo Fry, Menengai Soap brand, Somo Vegetable Cooking Oil and Karibu Vegetable Cooking Fat.
Rai family owns RaiPly which manufactures chip boards, ceilings, wooden tiles, parquet as well as polythene bags for sugar companies.
Tulip Properties Limited is also one of the companies owned by Rai Family. This company operates in real estate.
Rai family owns West Kenya Sugar Company which produces Kabras sugar brand, Naitiri, Sukari and Olepito industries.
End
