Nairobi Kenya:They are just 11 but very, very rich. Their wealth at the Nairobi
Securities Exchange (NSE) increased by Sh27 billion in slightly less
than 12 months. Mark you, that is only wealth in shares listed in their
names at the NSE. They have much more in shares not listed in their
names, but under nominee accounts or through sister companies to ones
listed at the stock market.
Yet, another huge chunk of their wealth is in firms they own but are
not quoted at the NSE. It is also worth noting that there is an equal or
slightly bigger number of Kenyans who are as wealthy, if not more
endowed, than the 11, but whose wealth is largely unknown to the public
as their companies or businesses are not listed at the NSE. Top in the
rich list of those whose wealth is measurable, at least through the NSE,
is his Highness The Aga Khan who alone scooped Sh17 billion of the Sh27
billion.
Next is the family of the late Philip Ndegwa, at Sh3 billion, a
former entrepreneur per excellence whose estate stands solid in real
estate, banking and other investment. Then follows Dr James Mwangi of
Equity Bank and Chris Kirubi who made Sh2 billion and Sh1.41 billion,
respectively. The family of retired President Daniel arap Moi and
businessman-cum-politician Jimnah Mbaru, just shied off the billion
mark, to have their listed wealth at the NSE increase by Sh800 million
apiece.
Close in tow are businessmen Peter Munga, Naushad Merali, Ashok Shah
and insurance executive, Benson Wairegi, whose wealth increased by Sh620
million, Sh400 million, Sh400 million and Sh380 million, respectively.
The Somen family, with their vast interests in provision of Internet
services and banker Gideon Muriuki closed the super rich list with gains
of Sh300 million and Sh216 million, respectively. The Aga Khan, who is
the spiritual leader of the Ismailia community, made his wealth through
his investments in the media, banking, insurance and hospitality.
He is the single largest investor at the NSE with majority
shareholding in the media giant, Nation Media Group (NMG), TPS East
Africa which runs the Serena chain of hotels, Jubilee Insurance and the
Diamond Trust Bank. The NMG, by far the largest listed of the Aga Khan’s
commercial interests in East Africa, had a market value of Sh48.5
billion by close of business at the NSE on Wednesday. Aga Khan’s stake
at the company is 44.66 percent where his shares are held under the Aga
Khan Fund for Economic Development.
The Aga Khan
Over the 12 month period, his wealth in the company grew by Sh10.1
billion from Sh11.64 billion to Sh21.75 billion as the company’s share
moved from Sh166 to Sh312. In Tourism Promotion Services (TPS) East
Africa, a holding company that has in its stable 21 hospitality
establishments (13hotels and eight lodges) marketed through Serena Hotel
and Lodges brand name, his wealth grew by Sh657 million from
Sh3.1billion to Sh3.7billion. His shares in TPS East Africa are held
through Aga Khan Economic Fund for Development, Industrial Promotion
Services, Aga Khan University Investments, Property Development and
Management (PDM) Holding, and Craysell Investment. In Diamond Trust
Bank, his shares are held under Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development,
Habib Bank, Craysell Investment and PDM Holding. In the past 12 months,
his wealth in the bank grew by Sh4.9 billion from 6.7billion to 11.68
billion. In Jubilee Insurance, where his shares are held under Aga Khan
Fund for Economic Development, his wealth grew by Sh1.9 billion from
Sh4.09 billion to Sh6 billion.
Ndegwa family
Though heavy investors in a wide range of sectors: from farming,
shipping, real estate and insurance, the family of the late Philip
Ndegwa are in the securities market only through the National Industrial
Credit (NIC) bank. The family’s shares in the NIC are held through
First Chartered Securities Ltd and ICEA Assets Management Ltd whose
directors are the late Ndegwa sons, James and Andrew. In the past one
year, the Ndegwas wealth grew by Sh2.84 billion from Sh4.6 billion to
Sh7.46 billion.
Dr James Mwangi
With a 3.45 per cent shareholding, Dr Mwangi is the biggest
individual investor in Equity Bank. In the period under consideration,
his wealth in the bank grew by Sh1.81 billion from Sh2.64billion to
Sh4.46billion. The Equity Bank boss is also one of the biggest
shareholders in life insurance firm, Britam, where his wealth grew by
Sh187.5 million from Sh438.7million to 626.2million.
Chris Kirubi
The industrialist and media owner’s investment in the NSE is through
the Centum group. He was also the third largest shareholder in the Kenya
Power company but has since sold his shares to Mama Ngina Kenyatta. In
Centum, Kirubi’s investment grew by Sh1.41 billion while his worth in
Kenya Power grew by Sh39 million to Sh269.9 million from Sh230.9
million.
Moi family
Former President Moi’s most visible investments at the NSE are in
Standard Chartered Bank and the Standard Media Group. In Standard
Chartered where his shareholding is held under Kabarak Ltd, his wealth
grew by Sh387.7million from Sh568.8million to Sh956.5million. In the
Standard Media Group where his shares are held under SNG (Standard
Newspaper Group) holdings, his investments increased by Sh409million
from Sh1.297billion to Sh1.7billion.
Jimnah Mbaru
Mbaru’s flagship business is the securities brokerage firm, Dyer and
Blair. He is also a major shareholder in Britam and Transcentury Group
where his wealth grew by Sh690.5 million. In Britam, his investments
grew by Sh548.2 million from Sh1.28 billion to Sh1.83 billion, while in
Transcentury his wealth increased by Sh145.2million from Sh581million to
Sh726 million.
Peter Munga
The Equity Bank founder chairs the bank’s board where he is listed
among the top 10 largest stock owners with a 0.61 per cent shareholding.
In Equity, his wealth grew by Sh319.4million from Sh465million to Sh784
million while he increased his worth in Britam by Sh187.5million from
Sh438.7million to Sh626million.
Benson Wairegi
The chief executive of Britam, Wairegi, joined the firm fresh from
university rising up to his current position. He is one of the biggest
shareholders in both Britam and Equity Bank where his wealth increased
by Sh380million. In Britam, his investments increased by Sh250.7million
from Sh586.7million to Sh837.4million while his Equity Bank stake
increased by Sh129.3million to Sh317.6million from Sh186.3million.
Naushad Merali
He is the Kenyan version of US investment guru Warren Buffet with a
knack for striking business deals while they are hot. Merali’s
investments at the NSE are spread across agricultural, automobile and
manufacturing sectors. His controlling interests are in Sasini Tea and
Coffee, tyre manufacturer Sameer Africa and battery manufacturer
Eveready East Africa. Through the three companies, Merali’s fortune grew
by Sh431.7million. In Sasini, his investments which are held through
Legend Investment, Yana Towers and East Africa Batteries grew by
Sh246million from Sh1.477billion to Sh1.723billion while in Sameer
Africa his wealth grew Sh119.4million to Sh844.4million from
Sh724.9million. In Eveready East Africa where his shares are held under
East Africa batteries, his investments grew by Sh66million.
Somen Family
The Somen family came to the limelight when it listed Access Kenya, a
communication company that sells corporate bandwidth, small offices and
up market homes across the country. The company has been in the news
lately following a bid by South Africa firm, Dimension Data PLC, to buy
all the 218 million shares in the company. Somen family’s shares in
Access Kenya are held separately by three members of the family, the
patriarch Michael Somen, and his two sons Jonathan and David. Jonathan,
the company’s managing director, is the majority shareholder followed by
David and his father in that order. Their wealth increased by
Sh323.6million in the last 12 months. Jonathan’s worth in the company
increased by Sh181.3million from Sh172million to Sh353.3million while
David’s grew by Sh78million from Sh74million to Sh152million.Michael’s
worth grew by Sh64.3million from Sh61million to Sh125.3million.
Gideon Muriuki
The Cooperative Bank managing director is the second biggest
shareholder in the bank and the biggest individual shareholder. He
gained Sh216million from his seven percent shareholding pushing his
investments’ worth from Sh1.095billion to Sh1.31billion. Muriuki is also
the biggest shareholder in CIC Insurance.
Ashok Shah
The founder of APA Insurance firm is one of the major players in both
general and life insurance. His investments in NSE are spread across
automotive, commercial, banking and insurance. His name features among
the top shareholders in CMC Motor Group, Barclays Bank, Kenya Airways,
and Pan Africa Life Insurance where his investments grew by Sh26.1
million. In Barclays Bank, his wealth grew by Sh2.4million from
Sh6.1million to Sh8.6million, while in Pan Africa Life his portfolio
gained by Sh39.6million.
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