The billionaire Kenyatta family, recognized as Kenya’s largest landholders, stands among the country’s wealthiest families, bolstered by their extensive land holdings and diverse investment portfolio.
This family’s storied heritage finds its roots in the lineage of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s inaugural president and a revered figure during the nation’s fight for independence.
Serving as Kenya’s initial prime minister from 1963 to 1964 and subsequently as president from 1964 to 1978, Jomo Kenyatta’s leadership indelibly shaped the country’s economic landscape and played a pivotal role in its development.
The Kenyatta family’s esteemed members include Ngina Kenyatta, Muhoho Kenyatta, and Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya’s former president. Together, they hold a commanding 13.2-percent stake in NCBA Group, constituting an impressive 217,497,023 ordinary shares. This substantial ownership is managed through the estate of their late patriarch, Jomo Kenyatta.
In addition to their financial holdings, the Kenyatta family’s vast land portfolio in Kenya spans over 500,000 acres, with a valuation that effortlessly soars into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Beyond their remarkable land assets, the Kenyatta family’s influence resonates throughout Kenya’s socio-economic landscape, actively shaping the nation’s trajectory towards progress and prosperity.
Billionaires.Africa has identified and monitored seven prominent assets owned by the Kenyatta family.
The Kenyatta family holds a significant 13.2-percent stake, equivalent to 217,497,023 ordinary shares, in NCBA Group. This Nairobi-based financial services conglomerate, established in 2019, operates as a non-operating holding company with subsidiaries in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Cote d’Ivoire, boasting a network of 109 branches. The Kenyatta family’s ownership in NCBA Group highlights their presence as major players in the financial services sector.
- Enke Investments
Enke Investments Ltd., a Private Limited Company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, serves as the primary investment vehicle for the Kenyatta family, controlling most of their stakes in various enterprises.
- 500,000-Acre Farm
The Kenyatta family, recognized as Kenya’s largest landowners, possess extensive land holdings primarily dedicated to export and livestock farming. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta owns 10,000 acres in Kiambu and Rift Valley, while his wife, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, commands a substantial 115,000 hectares of land, including a 13,000-hectare ranch in Kiambu County. Additionally, Mama Ngina owns two tea plantations and three sisal farms located near the Tanzanian border.
Mediamax Group stands as the largest independent media house in East Africa, boasting a diverse range of media operations, including print, broadcast, and digital media. With a portfolio of 12 media brands, Mediamax has made significant acquisitions, including K24 TV, Kameme FM, and The People’s Daily. The Kenyatta family is a prominent stakeholder in this major Kenyan media company, alongside other notable shareholders, such as Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi and a group of Kenyan investors, including Deputy President William Ruto.
The Kenyatta family has made substantial investments in the hospitality sector through the Heritage Group of Hotels. This renowned chain of luxury hotels in Kenya comprises seven properties under three distinct brands. Notable locations include Voyager Camp and Beach Resort in Tsavo and Mombasa, Kipungani Explorer on Lamu Island, Intrepids Camps in Samburu, Golf Hotel in Naivasha, The Great Rift Valley Lodge, and Mara Explorer Camp. The Great Rift Valley Lodge, situated 24km from Naivasha town, features an 18-hole championship golf course and an airstrip.
Brookside Dairy Limited, established in 1993, stands as the leading processor of dairy products in Kenya and the wider region. In 2014, French food processor Danone acquired a 40 percent stake in Brookside, while the Kenyatta family retained a controlling 50 percent stake in the business.
Timsales Holdings, based in Nakuru, is a prominent timber company specializing in the production of plywood, fiberboards, block boards, and flush doors. The company also supplies wooden poles to Kenya Power. It is reported that the Kenyatta family has ownership ties to this wood-based industrial complex.
