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Kenyan multimillionaire businessman John Kibunga Kimani is a prominent figure in the East African business world, amassing considerable wealth through diverse investments.
His impressive portfolio, which features stakes in companies like Kakuzi Plc, a leading agricultural enterprise listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, solidifies his status as one of Kenya’s wealthiest individuals.
As of June 29, the combined market value of Kimani’s shares in publicly traded companies on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) exceeded $22 million, positioning him as the sixth-richest investor on the local stock exchange and among the most affluent individuals not only in Kenya but also throughout East Africa.
Kimani boasts extensive experience in the agricultural sector. He has spearheaded agricultural programs, irrigation projects, and resource planning, notably in the Tana and Athi River basins across six districts in Kenya.
His work has been supported by various international organizations, including the World Bank, SNV of the Netherlands, JICA of Japan, DANIDA of Denmark, and GTZ of Germany.
Beyond his holdings in Kakuzi, Kimani’s wide-ranging investment portfolio encompasses stakes in Centum Investments, Kenya’s largest listed firm, and Nation Media Group, the largest independent media house in East and Central Africa.
Billionaires.Africa, has identified and tracked companies owned by Kimani.
The following comprises five companies in which he has direct or indirect ownership:
Kakuzi Plc, a publicly-traded agricultural powerhouse on the NSE, is renowned for its excellence in cultivating high-quality horticultural products such as avocados, macadamia nuts, and passion fruits. In addition to these crops, they are engaged in the processing and sale of tea, cattle, and commercial forestry. Notably, Kenyan tycoon John Kibunga Kimani holds a substantial 34.54-percent ownership stake in the company, equating to 6,762,133 ordinary shares, solidifying his presence in the agriculture and manufacturing sector.
Centum Investment, a leading investment firm in East Africa, boasts a diverse portfolio of quality investments, partially owned by the estate of the late Kenyan magnate, Chris Kirubi. The company’s mission is to facilitate access to extraordinary enterprises across Africa, ultimately creating tangible wealth for investors. Kimani is a significant stakeholder with a 4.39-percent ownership interest in the company.
Nation Media Group stands as a dominant force in the media and entertainment industry, encompassing television networks, film, and TV entertainment. Their extensive operating scale and prominent brands enable the creation and delivery of high-quality content across multiple platforms. As the largest independent media house in East and Central Africa, they reach and serve unparalleled audiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Kimani owns a 3.86-percent stake in this leading media conglomerate, diversifying his investments across thriving sectors in the East African region.
- Rural Development Services
Rural Development Services Limited, closely associated with Kimani, is widely recognized for its extensive land holdings across Kenya, firmly establishing Kimani as one of the foremost landowners in the country. In 2021, the high court mandated the company to complete the sale of a 126-acre land parcel in Makuyu, situated in Kenya’s Murang’a County, to African Cotton Industries Limited.
Safaricom Plc, headquartered in Nairobi, is Kenya’s premier telecommunications service provider and mobile network operator. As the nation’s largest telecommunications entity, Safaricom is a profit-making behemoth in East and Central Africa. It exerts control over a staggering 64.5 percent of the Kenyan market and is celebrated as the birthplace of M-PESA, a groundbreaking mobile banking service. Kimani possesses a minority stake in this telecom giant, further establishing his position as a noteworthy player in the East African telecom sector.
