By Kimani Kuria
Former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero estimated net worth is kshs9 billion. According to investigations conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the ex-governor who held office between 27th March 2013 and 21st August 2017 owns eleven posh vehicles, the Yala Towers, and hundreds of acres of land. But it is the apartments he owns in Nairobi that made headlines when EACC opened investigations on how the politician acquired the property during his tenure in office.
Evans Kidero’s Companies
The former governor is a business mogul owning several businesses; with his prime operational ventures being:
Gem Investments
Gem Apartments
Gem Suites
Orro Limited
Argenti Limited
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Gemsuite Apartments
This is one of the former governor’s most priced ventures that earn him millions in revenue every year. The apartments are fully furnished and services managed in line with international standards making them a choice selection for expatriates and the filthy rich in Kenya.
Locations, Features, and Amenities
The apartments are located in three locations in Nairobi; near State House, Riverside, and Muthaiga. These are prime locations in the city known for their affluence and high property value. Gemsuite Apartments go up to eleven floors with the management setting up Skytop bars for their residents. The bars have in-house attendants and are fully stocked with all the drink options residents might want. Additionally, as a standard feature Kidero has maintained in all three properties, Argenti Lounge, an Italian restaurant is available for residents to enjoy exotic meals, drinks, and beverages and after that take a lift to their homes.
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The properties also have state-of-the-art swimming pools complete with poolside bars for a drink as one enjoys their stay at Gemsuite. Additionally, residents have at their disposal chauffeured car services, gymnasiums, spas, world-class conference rooms, VIP transport to and from airports, and shuttles to ferry residents to the Central Business District. Owing to the great standards, GemSuites Riverside won the Best Hotel Development award by Africa Property Investment.
Monthly Rent and Room Charges
Those interested in living in the apartments, pay Ksh 540,000 monthly rent acceptable in dollars. In a past incident, Jomo Gecaga, President Uhuru’s nephew got into the limelight for the wrong reason after he failed to comply with his rental obligations in the apartments. Alternatively, the apartments are open for short-term renting going for eight hours. To stay in a one-bedroom unit between 0900 hrs and 1700hrs, clients part with Ksh 9,500.
Graft Allegations and Apartments-Seizure
EACC investigated the loss of Ksh 58,800,000 from Nairobi City Hall in 2014 revealing a chain of disbursements to ten people, one of them directly linked to the former governor. The money was solicited from City Hall in a dramatic manner when a pseudo company under the name Kyavee Holdings sued the defunct Nairobi City council on grounds of a land deal gone sour. The perpetrators would then hire the late Mburu Stephen’s firm ‘Wachira Mburu Mwangi & Company Advocates’ to represent City Hall and then charge KSh 58.8 million in legal fees. The money was indeed paid out and between the 7th and 10th of January 2014, the late Mburu would disburse the money as follows:
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- Stephen Kariuki Mburu – Ksh 11.5 million
- John Ndirangu Kariuki – Ksh 17 million
- Hannah Muthoni Kariuki – Ksh 5.5 million
- Mwamuye Kimathi – Ksh 2 million
- Paul Mutunga – Ksh 5 million
- Cups Limited – Ksh 15 million
How is the Loot Linked to Gemsuite Apartments?
Cups Limited was connected with one George Wainana, who served as Evans Kidero’s Chief of Staff. The company would then wire Ksh 14.4 million to the former governor and the following day, the money would be transferred to Kidero’s contractor Virji Meghji.
“In the alternative and without prejudice, a declaration that the plaintiff (EACC) is entitled to trace the aforesaid amount… into serviced apartments (known as Gem Apartments) on land parcel known as LR. No 205/46 within Riverside Area, in Nairobi County and that the 1st defendant holds the property in trust for the county government of Nairobi” read the court documents.
Also Read: Evans Kidero Net Worth
Ksh 14.4 Million Recovery from Kidero
The EACC went on to launch a recovery process of the Ksh 58.8 million lost to the ten perpetrators. This was expected to be done through asset-seizure or money refund from the accused. Evans Kidero, through his lawyer, Senior Counsel Ojienda Tom, countered the recovery bid claiming that the Ksh 14.4 million was acquired from selling his Toyota Lexus. The court however dismissed this retaliation made in December 2021 and the EACC is to proceed with the recovery process.
