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Kenyan billionaire Humphrey Kariuki is one of the richest men in East Africa.
Kariuki, 66, started his career in the late 70s as a clerical staff at the Central Bank of Kenya.
After a stint at the Central Bank, he ventured into importing used vehicles for sale in Kenya.
He subsequently opened a popular quick-service restaurant in Nairobi’s central business district.
Next, he started importing alcoholic beverages, soon becoming the sole distributor for brands such as Bacardi and the Edrington Group in his late twenties.
Those early ventures laid the foundation for the Janus Continental Group, the billion-dollar conglomerate Humphrey Kariuki runs today, which has tentacles in power generation, petroleum distribution, engineering, construction, real estate, hotels, and beverages.
Here are seven key assets owned by Kariuki that have made him the billionaire he is today:
GL Africa Energy is an Independent Power Producer (IPP) with solar and thermal power plants in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.
The UK-registered company has key projects in development in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, and many others. GL Africa Energy’s flagship project is a 105MW power plant in Zambia’s copper belt town of Ndola, under Ndola Energy Company Limited (NECL). It owns and operates the plant.
The company has a power purchase agreement with the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO). This power is fed directly into the Zambian national grid.
Dalbit, which Kariuki founded in 2002, is one of the largest suppliers and distributors of petroleum products across East, Central, and Southern Africa.
The company distributes and stores everything from Jet A1, Diesel, and Petrol to Kerosene, Heavy Fuel Oil, and Lubricants.
Dalbit is also involved in the trading and large volume supply of fuel to Governments and Oil Marketing Companies in East and Southern Africa.
BSL Infrastructure is an engineering, procurement, and construction company specializing in constructing landmark fuel storage depots, energy, and allied infrastructure in the Eastern, Southern & Central Africa region.
The company serves both private and public sector clients. For example, BSL refurbished Indeni Refinery, the only crude oil processing plant in Zambia.
In addition, BSL has delivered Strategic Depots, Tank Farms, Power Plants, and similar projects.
4. Africa Spirits Limited
Africa Spirits Limited (ASL) is a Kenyan alcoholic beverages manufacturer in Thika, Kiambu County. The company, which started operations in 2004, produces Vodka, Brandy, and Gin. The brands are top-rated and entrenched in the Great Lakes and East Africa markets.
5. Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club
In 2015, the Kenyan billionaire paid $18 million to acquire the world-famous Fairmont Mount Kenya SafariClub from KHI Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI), a company owned by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club has a rich history. Situated in Nanyuki in central Kenya, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club is an award-winning 5-star luxury hotel that sits within the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy with its variety of mountain wildlife and flora, facing the breath-taking view of Mount Kenya – Africa’s 2nd highest peak.
Kariuki launched The Hub Karen in 2016. It is a premier open-air shopping mall in the region in Nairobi’s leafy Karen suburb. Sitting on a total retail floor area of 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2), it has three stores and more than 80 tenants.
Centered around two main piazzas, the mall also has an expansive garden and lake feature that faces restaurants and shops and is home to a new adventure space with the first and longest zip-line within a shopping mall setting in East Africa.
7. 90 JGO
90 JGO is a green space commercial office building in Nairobi.
With a total space of 67,000 sq ft ( 6,235msq), the four-story building offers open plan, Grade-A offices for local and multinational corporations.
