The Gardens

This is where Olunana Gardens truly shines. The first thing you notice is the massive, pristine green lawn that looks like it’s been maintained with a pair of scissors—it’s that neat. They have four gazebos, and we sat in one that had a really comfortable lounge set with light frames and grey cushions. If you’re the kind of person who loves being outdoors, you’ll appreciate how much effort they put into this space.

The gardens are divided into two sections. If you’re looking to host an event, you can rent the first garden (right as you enter) for Ksh50,000. The second section, which is separated by the kitchen area, goes for Ksh100,000. It’s clearly a popular spot for team building; in fact, there was a group in the middle of a session during our visit.

For those looking for photo ops or wedding venues, they have a nice white metal archway that stands out against the greenery. The whole perimeter is beautifully lined with shrubs, small trees, and a variety of succulents and flowering bushes that give the place a lush feel.

Bar & Restaurant

The interior has a very open, airy feel to it because of the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s bright and gives you a great view of the lawn even if you’re sitting inside. The seating is a mix of relaxed grey armchairs and formal dining tables. Some tables were set with black linens while others had white covers and red sashes, likely prepped for an event.

The decor is clean and modern, with wood-look floors and white walls. There’s a wooden partition in the centre decorated with “home” signs and stuffed animals, which makes the place feel a bit more family-friendly and less like a stiff hotel lobby.

However, here is where the “hidden gem” loses some lustre. There is a nice-looking bar counter with a stocked cooler, but the coffee situation was a letdown. They have a coffee machine, but it’s currently not working. If you’re looking for a latte or cappuccino, you’re out of luck—the only option is instant coffee. They do have a wall-mounted TV if you want to catch the news or a game while you eat.

The Food

I’ll be blunt: I was very disappointed with the food. This seems to be the “curse” of many hotels along Kangundo Road—the places look world-class, but the kitchen can’t keep up. We ordered fries and sausages for the kids, but the fries were so underwhelming that the children barely touched them. It’s a shame because the setting is so beautiful, but the food just doesn’t match the environment yet.

Kid Zone

The playground is definitely the highlight for the little ones. It’s an expansive, colorful area set on a gravel surface. They have a solid setup with:

• Two curved slides and two swings on a single frame.

• A climbing wall (the kids spent a lot of time here).

• An enclosed trampoline and a seesaw.

• A classic Merry-Go-Round and a bouncy castle.

The best part? Access to all these activities is only Ksh 200 per child, which is great value for the amount of energy they burned off.

Accommodation

They are currently in the middle of constructing guest rooms. If they can get the rooms right—and more importantly, fix the kitchen—this could easily become the best hotel on the Koma-Kenol route.

Category	Rating
Garden	(5/5)
Kid Zone	(4/5)
Service	(4/5)
Food	(2/5)

Most Kenyan drivers immediately think it’s a new NTSA speed trap or some hidden police gadget meant to catch you off guard. But don’t worry—you aren’t about to get a fine. These are actually called Pneumatic Road Tubes, and they’re basically the ‘census takers’ of the Kenyan highway system.

Here’s why KeNHA is putting them on our roads and what that data is actually used for.

What Exactly Are These Tubes?

Pneumatic road tubes are portable traffic-monitoring sensors. They consist of hollow, flexible rubber tubes laid perpendicular to the flow of traffic. One end is plugged, while the other is connected to a small, weatherproof data-logger box (the “brain”) usually secured to a nearby lamp post or guardrail.

How They Work (The “Air Pulse” Logic)

The technology is simple but remarkably precise. When your vehicle’s tires roll over the tube, they “squish” it. This compression sends a burst (pulse) of air pressure rushing down the tube toward the data logger. An air switch inside the box detects the pulse and converts it into a timestamped digital record.

Why is KeNHA Placing Them on Our Roads?

Agencies like the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), KURA, and KeRRA use these tubes to gather “Ground Truth” data. This isn’t just about counting cars; it’s about high-level data science for road safety and planning.

Traffic Volume Counting

The most basic function is counting how many vehicles use a specific stretch of road. This data helps engineers decide if a road needs to be expanded from two lanes to four or if a new bypass is required to alleviate congestion.

Vehicle Classification

By analyzing the timing of the pulses, the system can distinguish between a Probox, a 14-seater Matatu, and a heavy-duty semi-trailer. This is crucial for understanding road wear, as heavier axles cause significantly more damage to the pavement than passenger cars.

Speed & Direction Studies

When you see two tubes spaced a few feet apart (like in the photo), the device is measuring speed and direction. The logger calculates the time it takes for a vehicle to hit the first tube versus the second. If the data shows that 90% of drivers are speeding through a specific “Black Spot,” KeNHA might use that evidence to install speed bumps or rumble strips.

There are several misconceptions about these tubes floating around Kenyan social media. While they do record speed data, they are almost never used to issue individual fines. They are for anonymous statistical data. Police enforcement usually relies on hand-held LIDAR guns or permanent CCTV cameras.

These are temporary. Technicians typically leave them out for 24 to 48 hours to get a “snapshot” of a typical day’s traffic before moving them to a different section of the highway.

The rubber is soft and designed to be driven over by everything from motorcycles to 20-ton trucks without causing damage to the vehicle or the road.

Why This Matters for the Kenyan Driver

The data collected by these little black tubes eventually leads to reduced time you spend idling at junctions. Ensuring road repair budgets go to the most heavily used routes. It helps the government plan where new interchanges and flyovers are most needed.

Esther came out guns blazing, stating that Guardian has worked hard for everything he owns. Her children also rose to their stepfather’s defense, asserting that he was not involved in the court proceedings and has been nothing but a source of joy for the family.

In a tell-all interview on Alex Mwakideu TV, the “Music Doctor” dropped a bombshell that left fans and critics alike scrambling for answers: he never actually intended to walk down the aisle.

In this article, WoK takes looks at his multi-million shilling 7 Heaven Music empire to his sprawling agribusiness in Mua Hills, Guardian Angel is proving that while he may have “stumbled” into marriage, his business moves are calculated with surgical precision.

“Marriage Wasn’t in My Plans”

For a man whose brand is now synonymous with his high-profile union with Esther Musila, Guardian’s admission to Mwakideu was startlingly blunt.

“I didn’t even want to get married initially. My focus was elsewhere. But Esther changed how I look at life. She is the head and visionary in my life goals,” he confessed during the sit-down.

This shift in mindset didn’t just change his personal life; it supercharged his bank account. By leaning into the stability of his relationship, Guardian transitioned from a “hustling artist” to a corporate-minded businessman.

Guardian Angel Wealth

Social media has been ablaze with claims that Guardian Angel “built his house at his wife’s place” in Machakos. To a section of Kenyans, this was a “taboo” move for a man from Western Kenya. However, Guardian sees it through a purely financial lens.

In his conversation with Mwakideu, he clarified that the choice of Mua Hills wasn’t about abandoning his roots, but about protecting his investments. The house serves as the nerve center for Waingo Farm, his massive agricultural operation.

He challenged the cultural stigma, stating that the Kenyan Constitution allows any citizen to buy land and build anywhere. He remarked, “It is not like nimejenga kwa kina bibi (I’ve built at my in-laws’).”

“The reason why it’s easier for me is because I can monitor the things I am doing,” Guardian explained. “If I am farming chicken in Butere and I have to slaughter and bring them to Nairobi, how much time does that take? It takes a whole day. In Mua, I can just go to the reserve, monitor my projects, and sleep there. It is not like nimejenga kwa kina bibi (I’ve built at my in-laws’). Even the Constitution allows you to build anywhere.”

Waingo Farm

If you follow Guardian Angel on social media or YouTube where he has amassed millions of followers, you’ve likely seen him swapping out his designer suits for gumboots. Waingo Farm is no mere hobby; it’s a diversified money-maker:

Recognized as a “millionaire pig farmer” on platforms like Kenya’s Gold, Guardian manages a high-yield piggery. He focuses on specialized breeds that command top dollar from Nairobi’s meat processors.

His poultry project is equally massive. He has invested in semi-automated coops for thousands of chickens, leveraging the Mua location to deliver fresh produce to the capital in under 45 minutes.

The farm also produces consistent weekly revenue through large-scale cultivation of traditional vegetables like Managu and Terere.

7 Heaven Music and 7HM FC

While the farm provides the “passive” wealth, his creative engine, 7 Heaven Music (7HM), remains a juggernaut. Guardian and Esther recently unveiled a world-class recording facility in Karen, designed to mentor new talent like Sammy G and Derrick.

Not one to ignore the youth, he recently launched a football club, 7HM FC, to scout and nurture local talent, funded largely by the proceeds of his agribusiness.

Guardian Angel is no longer just a gospel singer; he is a case study in how to leverage fame into a sustainable, multi-sector empire. And for those still stuck on where he built his house? He’s too busy counting the proceeds from his Mua pig farm to care.

Meet the USS Gerald R. Ford. It’s an aircraft carrier the size of three football fields, packed with 75 fighter jets and capable of wiping out targets thousands of miles away. But forget the heavy artillery for a second—how on earth do you house, feed, and clean 5,000 sailors on a ship that doesn’t touch land for months?

Just How Much is Ksh 1.7 Trillion in Kenya?

To put the Ksh 1.7 trillion ($13 billion) cost of the USS Gerald R. Ford into perspective, this single military vessel is an absolute economic behemoth. In a Kenyan context, Ksh 1.7 trillion could:

Easily fund 40% of the National Budget 

Kenya’s projected national budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year is roughly Ksh 4.3 trillion. Of this amount Ksh 3.09 trillion is for recurrent expenditure and Ksh 725.1 billion for development.The cost of this one ship could fund almost half of the country’s entire operations for a year.

Build an additional 19 Nairobi Expressways

The 27-kilometer Nairobi Expressway cost roughly Ksh 86 billion. For the price of the aircraft carrier, Kenya could build nearly 20 of those superhighways.

Construct 4 Standard Gauge Railways (SGR)

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR project cost approximately Ksh 416 billion (in today’s USD terms). Ksh 1.7 trillion is enough to build four of them from scratch.

Here is a look inside the daily life of the sailors operating this trillion-shilling titan.

Feeding a City: A Ksh 8.4 Million Daily Grocery Bill

Floating in the middle of the ocean means you can’t just step out to the local supermarket. The logistics behind keeping the crew fed are staggering:

A team of highly trained culinary specialists serves up to 17,300 meals every single day, keeping the kitchens running 24/7. In just one day, the crew consumes 1,600 lbs of chicken, 350 lbs of lettuce, and brews 20,000 cups of coffee. 

The grocery bill alone costs the US Navy between Ksh 5.85 million ($45,000) and Ksh 8.45 million ($65,000) per day—over Ksh 130 million ($1 million) a month. Every 7 to 10 days, massive supply ships pull alongside the moving carrier to transfer hundreds of thousands of pounds of food via cable systems.

Sleeping in “Steel Coffins”

Forget about personal space or plush mattresses. Space is an absolute premium on an aircraft carrier. Sailors sleep in cramped compartments where beds, known as “racks”, are stacked three people high. A standard rack is slightly smaller than a twin bed. 

The most shocking part? From the top of the thin foam mattress to the bottom of the rack above, there is only 20 inches of clearance. It’s barely enough room to roll over, which is why sailors in the lower bunks affectionately call them “coffin lockers.”

The Ksh 52 Million Toilet Problem and “Navy Showers”

Staying clean in a vessel shared with 5,000 other sweating humans is heavily enforced to prevent disease outbreaks, but it comes with unique challenges. A typical enlisted birthing area has three to four showers and toilets shared by 80 to 100 people. On the newest Ford-class carriers, all bathrooms are completely gender-neutral, meaning there are no urinals at all.

The ship uses a vacuum-powered septic system similar to an airplane. Because sailors sometimes flush unauthorized items, the pipes frequently clog. To clear a serious blockage, the Navy has to perform a chemical “acid flush” that costs an eye-watering Ksh 52 million ($400,000) every single time.

Fresh water is a precious resource. Sailors take a “Navy Shower”—you turn on the water to get wet, turn it off to lather up with soap, and turn it back on to rinse. This method uses just 3 gallons (11 liters) of water, compared to a typical civilian shower that guzzles up to 60 gallons.

Laundry Room

Doing laundry on a ship this massive is an extreme sport. The laundry facilities process a staggering 150,000 pounds of laundry every single week.

The machines are housed deep below the waterline, where temperatures regularly exceed 135°F (57°C). Because of the intense heat, sailors are often limited to working one-hour shifts just to avoid heatstroke.

It might not be a luxurious life, but the amenities have heavily improved over the decades, with newer ships offering Wi-Fi lounges, gyms, post offices, and relatively better food. It takes immense mental toughness to adapt to the constant noise, artificial light, and cramped quarters, but it’s what keeps one of the world’s most powerful military forces operational.

For years, Kenyan crypto traders have lived in a “wild west” of peer-to-peer (P2P) trades and M-Pesa reversals, always one bank notification away from a frozen account. This week, that era ended. On March 19, 2026, the National Treasury unveiled the Draft Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Regulations, marking the most aggressive financial pivot since the 2023 Digital Excise Tax.

This isn’t just “regulation”—it’s a total restructuring of how money moves in Nairobi. As Treasury Cabinet Secretary Hon. FCPA John Mbadi noted during the release:

“The cross-border nature of Virtual Assets compounds the risk to our financial system. These regulations provide a framework that is adaptive and flexible for domestic cooperation, consumer protection, and the management of systemic risks.”

The “30% Trap” for Stablecoins

The biggest headline isn’t the licensing; it’s the 30% Liquidity Mandate. Under the new rules, stablecoin issuers (like those behind USDT or USDC equivalents) must now hold 30% of customer funds in segregated accounts at commercial banks domiciled in Kenya.

This is a masterstroke for the government. By forcing crypto firms to park billions in local accounts, the Treasury is effectively using the crypto boom to boost local bank liquidity. For you, the user, this means better protection—but expect “transaction maintenance fees” to creep into your wallet. The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) accompanying the draft is blunt about the goal:

“The proposed Regulations will foster a secure, resilient and innovative virtual asset ecosystem… ensuring that 100% of liabilities are matched by high-quality liquid assets.”

Launching a Crypto Startup

If you were planning to launch a crypto startup from a laptop in Westlands, the 2026 draft just raised the barrier to entry to an eye-watering height. The tiered capital requirements are designed to filter out the “small players”:

• Stablecoin Issuers: Ksh 500 Million ($3.85M) paid-up capital.

• Crypto Exchanges & Wallets: Ksh 150 Million ($1.15M) core capital.

• The 0.05% Friction: A new transaction fee on token platforms, which CS Mbadi justifies as a way to “ensure the safety and integrity of Kenya’s financial system.”

Industry leaders are already pushing back. The Virtual Assets Association of Kenya (VAAK), while encouraging the move toward clarity, warned that these high bars could stifle local talent. In a statement following the draft release, VAAK emphasized:

“While we welcome the success of public-private collaboration, the regulations must not impose undue burdens that could hinder Kenya’s potential as an African digital asset hub.”

My Take: Is it a Cage or a Bridge?

As a marketing professional who has watched global brokers like HFM and platforms like Luno navigate these waters, I see this as a necessary evil. Apollo Sande, Luno Kenya’s Country Manager, recently noted that the relaunch of global platforms in Kenya reflects “renewed optimism in a maturing regulatory environment.”

With these rules, a crypto click is now as “valuable” to an advertiser as a mortgage application. We are moving toward a 2027 where your KCB app and your Bitcoin wallet are essentially the same thing. The “wild west” was fun, but the institutional era has arrived—and it has a very expensive entry ticket.

Public Participation

The National Treasury is conducting public participation forums across the country. If you want to protect your “hustle,” you need to show up at these venues between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on the following dates:

Submission Deadline: April 10, 2026

If you cannot attend in person, you can forward your comments, inputs, or memoranda to the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury. If you cannot attend in person, you can forward your comments, inputs, or memoranda to the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury. Via email send to pstnt@treasury.go.ke and copy vasps@treasury.go.ke. All submissions must be received on or before Friday, 10th April 2026. You can also hand deliver to the Office of the Principal Secretary, National Treasury Building, Nairobi.

Here is a look at the humble primary schools that shaped Kenya’s wealthiest individuals.

SK Macharia-Ndakaini Primary School

The Royal Media Services founder and chairman started his education in Ndakaini Primary School in 1954. The public primary school is located in Gatanga Constituency, Murang’a County, Kenya near the Ndakaini Dam (Thika Dam). The school has undergone marked improvement over the years thanks to the local leadership. 

James Mwangi – Nyagatugu Primary School

The face of Equity Group, James Mwangi, had a humble upbringing. Born in Kangema, Murang’a County, Mwangi attended Nyagatugu Primary School while being raised by his widowed mother. Life was not a bed of roses; he witnessed firsthand the daily struggles of his community to make ends meet, which fueled his drive to transform the banking sector for the “unbanked” majority. 

Peter Munga – Tuuthu Primary School

Before he founded Equity Bank (then Equity Building Society), Peter Munga’s education was a “long, torturous walk” through the village. He began his schooling at Nyagatugu Primary but was forced to drop out and return to his village as a destitute during the State of Emergency in 1953. His luck changed when a Catholic priest spotted his potential and offered him a scholarship to attend Tuuthu Primary School. From those classrooms in the tea-growing zones of Murang’a, he eventually built one of Africa’s largest financial empires.

Gideon Muriuki-Kiganjo primary school in Nyeri County

The Co-operative Bank of Kenya CEO Gideon Muriuki has held the title of the highest paid CEO in Kenya for years. He started his formative education at Kaigonde Primary School in Tetu, Nyeri County, before transferring to Kiganjo Primary School in Gatundu South Sub-County, Kiambu County. According to kenyaprimaryschools.com, the public primary school is run by a religious organization. 

Humphrey Kariuki – Gathaithi Primary School

Humphrey Kariuki, the billionaire behind the Great Lakes Africa Energy and The Hub Karen, didn’t start in the city. His academic journey began at Gathaithi Primary School. Growing up as one of 10 children, his early years in the village provided the grit needed to later venture into international markets ranging from London to Dubai. Despite his massive wealth today, he remains a vocal advocate for investing in rural African education.

Maina Wanjigi – Wahudura Primary School

The late billionaire and veteran politician Maina Wanjigi was born in Wahudura Village, Murang’a, in 1931. His formal education started at Wahudura Primary School in 1938. While he eventually attended elite institutions like Stanford and the University of Connecticut, it was the foundation laid in that village school that propelled him into the famous “Airlift Africa” program and a career that spanned both high-level politics and massive business interests.

Chris Kirubi – Naivasha Primary School

While the late Chris Kirubi became the embodiment of Kenyan “glamour” and industrial success, his beginnings were incredibly bleak. Born in the Kongoni area of Naivasha where his father worked for a white settler, Kirubi attended Naivasha Primary School. He was orphaned at a young age and faced extreme poverty, eventually dropping out of secondary school for a period to work so he could pay for his younger brother’s education. His story remains a testament that your starting point in a village primary school does not define your finish line.

For institutional investors, corporate executives, and market analysts, the first quarter of 2026 has already delivered two of the largest cross-border banking acquisitions in East African history.

Here is a breakdown of who is buying, who is selling, and the regulatory mechanics forcing the change as compiled by WoK.

The CBK’s KSh 10 Billion Mandate

The trigger for this massive wave of consolidation is the Business Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024. To insulate the economy against macroeconomic shocks and build lenders capable of financing large-scale regional projects, the CBK overhauled the minimum capital requirements for commercial banks.

Speaking to the press in December 2024, CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge didn’t mince words about his desire to see smaller players get eaten up, 

“We hope that there will be mergers, and in our view, having stronger banks and a robust capital base will enable them to withstand many other risks, including cybersecurity. This is the new way to have a stronger financial presence in the region, and this can only happen if we have banks with a stronger capital base.”

Historically set at KSh 1 billion, the new law mandates a phased, tenfold increase in core capital. Lenders were required to hit KSh 3 billion by the end of 2025, with the ultimate threshold scaling up to a massive KSh 10 billion by the end of 2029.

Appearing before the parliamentary committee on March 25, 2025, the CBK Governor stated that “The banking sector is facing too many risks, and it needs to have a strong capital base to address and mitigate those risks… banks will gradually increase their core capital to KSh10 billion.”

While Tier-1 banks comfortably absorbed this metric, the new threshold placed an immediate countdown on Tier-2 and Tier-3 lenders: either raise billions in fresh equity, merge with local rivals, or allow foreign capital to take over. Foreign institutions sitting on surplus capital have aggressively chosen the latter.

Nedbank’s 66% Takeover of NCBA Group

The most consequential transaction of 2026 thus far is South Africa’s Nedbank Group making a formal move to take control of NCBA Group PLC, Kenya’s third-largest lender by customer base that was under the cusp of the Kenyatta and Ndegwa families. 

On January 21, 2026, Nedbank announced a partial pro-rata tender offer to acquire a 66% majority stake in NCBA. The remaining 34% of the bank’s shares will continue to trade publicly on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), preserving public market participation.

The transaction values the acquisition at approximately Ksh110 billion (Approximately ZAR 13.9 billion or US$855.5 million), pricing the deal at roughly 1.4x book value.

Shareholders tendering their stock are slated to receive a combination of 20% cash and 80% newly issued Nedbank shares listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

In February 2026, Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) granted Nedbank a critical waiver, allowing the South African giant to execute this partial acquisition without being forced to launch a mandatory takeover offer for 100% of the company.

For Nedbank, acquiring NCBA—an institution that manages roughly KSh 665 billion in assets and disburses over KSh 1 trillion in digital loans annually—provides an immediate, dominant footprint across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

West African: Zenith Bank Acquires Paramount Bank

Just one day after the Nedbank announcement, the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) cleared another landmark transaction: Nigeria’s Zenith Bank PLC acquiring 100% shareholding of Paramount Bank Limited.

Paramount Bank, a niche Tier-3 lender primarily focused on SME lending, had successfully grown its core capital to KSh 3.12 billion by Q3 2025, beating the immediate CBK interim deadline. However, securing the long-term KSh 10 billion requirement necessitated a strategic buyout.

Zenith Bank, dual-listed in Nigeria and London, utilized capital raised from a massive KSh 32.75 Billion (₦351 billion) public offer in 2024 to fund its East African expansion.

To protect local interests, the CAK approved the 100% acquisition with a strict public-interest caveat: Zenith Bank is legally required to retain all 78 of Paramount’s employees for a minimum of 12 months post-completion.

This acquisition solidifies a growing trend. Zenith joins a rapidly expanding roster of Nigerian lenders—including Access Bank, UBA, and GTBank—that are utilizing acquisitions to secure coveted Kenyan banking licenses and establish Nairobi as a central hub for pan-African digital finance.

What to Expect Next

According to CBK data at the close of 2024, nearly two dozen licensed banks were poised to fall short of the ultimate KSh 10 billion mark without intervention.

As the 2029 deadline approaches, the market should anticipate accelerated M&A activity. For corporate investors, the prevailing strategy is clear: the era of the independent, mid-sized Kenyan bank is closing, making way for an ecosystem dominated by heavily capitalized, cross-border financial titans.

But who is the man behind the estimated Ksh1.23 billion deal? And what else does he own in Kenya?

The Man: From Igunga to Billionaire Status

Born in 1964, Rostam Azizi is a fifth-generation Tanzanian of Persian descent. He didn’t just stumble into wealth; he built a diversified empire that survived the complex political shifts of Tanzania’s CCM party.

• The Politician: He served as the Member of Parliament for Igunga for nearly two decades (1994–2011) and was the National Treasurer for the ruling CCM party.
• The Pioneer: In 2013, Forbes named him Tanzania’s first dollar billionaire. Even after dropping off the public list to keep his wealth private, he remains one of the three wealthiest men in East Africa.

His Multi-Billion Shilling Portfolio in Kenya

While the NMG deal is his most famous, Azizi has been quietly “colonizing” the Kenyan energy sector for years with the blessing of the highest offices.

Taifa Gas (The Sh16 Billion Giant)

In February 2023, President William Ruto personally commissioned the groundbreaking of Azizi’s Taifa Gas plant in the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, Mombasa.

• The Asset: A 30,000-metric-tonne LPG terminal—the largest of its kind in Africa.
• The Impact: This Sh16.7 billion investment was designed to break the monopoly of local gas billionaires and bring down cooking gas prices for millions of Kenyans.

Real Estate & Hospitality

While his primary real estate holdings are in Dubai and Oman, insiders link Azizi to several high-end commercial interests in Nairobi and Mombasa, often acting as a strategic partner for international firms entering the Kenyan market.

His Regional Empire: Where the Real Wealth Lies

To understand Azizi’s power, you must look at his “Home Base” in Tanzania and the Middle East:

The “Ruto Connection”: Why He is So Influential in 2026

The “influence” doesn’t just come from owning newspapers; it comes from access. Azizi has successfully bridged the gap between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. He is widely seen as a key figure in the “thaw” of relations between Kenya and Tanzania.

By investing in “Essential Services” -Energy and Media-, he has made himself indispensable to the current administration’s goals of lowering energy costs and controlling the regional message.

In the high-stakes world of Nairobi’s luxury car scene, one name stands out: Patrick Riang’a, popularly known as Patrick Car Soko. Recently awarded the “Best Car Salesman of the Year 2025,” his journey isn’t just about sleek high end cars; it’s a lesson in resilience. 

In a viral interview on the Dr. King’ori Show-that has garnered over 50k views and counting, Patrick dropped the “raw” truth about quitting a top media job at Nation Media Group (NMG) without a plan and moving to a KSh 6,000 house to survive.

Here is his story as told by WoK. 

The “Stupid” Resignation: Quitting NMG Without a Plan

Patrick was a staple at NMG, handling news and football commentary at the now defunct QFM and Nation FM. However, on April 28, 2015, he walked away from the corporate world with zero safety net.

“I can tell you confidently, I quit without a plan. I said I’m done, and I didn’t know what I was going to do next… I quit before the salary was out. It was with immediate effect,” the car salesman shared. 

Looking back, he admits the move was reckless but necessary:

“I resigned stupidly. I think it was a stupid idea to resign when I look back… but anyway, it worked for me, ” he added.

The KSh 6,000 Tasia House

Most people who quit high-profile jobs try to “fake it” to maintain their social status. Patrick did the opposite. He was living in Highrise, paying KSh 35,000 in rent, but with a pregnant wife and no income, he chose the downgrade.

“……….Me, I moved from 35,000 to a 6,000 [rent] house in Tasia… If you cannot be able to manage a downgrade, for sure you will fail forever.”

Patrick argues that this humility is what prevents the “Nairobi depression” many former stars face:

“If you cannot accept that there are ups and downs in life, the likelihood of you going into depression is very high.”

Life as a Nairobi Watchman

Before the Land Cruiser J300s and Defenders, Patrick’s first job in the city was guarding gates.

“In 2011, I was a watchman in Nairobi… 2012, I was in media without proper education at that time. I joined school while already in media.”

The Breakthrough: Commissions Over Salaries

Patrick’s aggressive marketing on Facebook groups caught the attention of Ocean Cross Motors, where he was mentored by the legendary Alf Kairo. He quickly realized that one good car deal could outearn a whole year in the newsroom.

“When I joined Ocean… the commission which was far above my pay group at Nation Media Group, I was like, ‘I’ve worked for media for 3 years, what was I doing there?'”

Advice for Car Buyers

Now a manager at Car Soko (located near Village Market), Patrick deals with the “big boys” who buy high end cars. He shared some brutal truths for Kenyans looking to buy their first car:

“If I’m buying a car for people to say Patrick is doing good out here, I’ll go for a Prado… beyond 20 million, people don’t care which kind of model it is.”

He went on to add,

“Buying a car is easy, but maintaining is another issue… these German machines, they’re not easy to maintain sometime. A Volvo XC90 headlight is around 200,000.”

Patrick stated that business people prefer to buy cars on credit, “Most of these business people I’ve met, they don’t want to buy cash. They have the money, but they do bank financing. They pay like 2 million deposit and 8 million financed.”

The “Greatest” Secret: Trust

In an industry often associated with “conmen,” Patrick says his “celebrity” face is his greatest asset because people buy from those they recognize.

“People nowadays don’t just buy a car… they buy trust. They see this familiar face… they’re like, ‘This guy, we know him.’ We have established a system of trust, and trust is everything.”

In this article, WoK unveils the billionaires and private equity giants quietly dominating Kenya’s multi-billion shilling solar industry in 2026.

M-KOPA

This company ranks among the three dominant players in the multi-billionaire solar energy market. It evolved from a start-up to a profitable fintech giant funded by Richard Branson and Al Gore. The founders are Jesse Moore, Chad Larson and Nick Hughes (the mind behind M-Pesa’s early growth). The Princely Family of Liechtenstein has a stake through LGT Venture Philanthropy.

M-Kopa is chaired by corporate heavyweight Mugo Kibati. 

Sun King

This is another big brand in Kenya that is ‘unfortunately’ not locally owned. According to Sun King website, they “distribute, install and finance solar energy solutions for the 1.8 billion people without reliable access to electricity” making them the largest off grid solar company in the world. The company is owned by University of Illinois graduates T. Patrick Walsh, Anish Thakkar, and Sam Goldman.

To fuel its aggressive expansion, Sun King recently secured a massive Ksh 20.1 billion capital injection. It was backed by global heavyweights like General Atlantic and Pierre Omidyar, the billionaire founder of eBay, who clearly see the Kenyan solar market as the next big frontier.

Zola Electric

The third giant is Zola Electric that enjoys the backing OF billionaire Elon Musk and Bill Gates via Vulcan Capital. The company is owned by Xavier Helgesen, Joshua Pierce, and Erica Mackey.

While its financier, SunFunder is headquartered in Nairobi, the company’s major markets are Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire

Davis & Shirtliff

A household name in Kenya, Davis & Shirtliff was founded by E.C. Davis and F.R. Shirtliff in 1946. The 80 year old company, under the tutelage of Alec Davis, controls the lion’s share of industrial solar and water heating systems in Kenya. 

Harun Aydin

A controversial Turkish businessman and close ally of president William Ruto. Harun Aydin is a critical supplier to the national grid through his company, Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa, he is developing a 50MW solar plant in Laikipia. The project is situated on a staggering 3,000-acre parcel in the Laikipia Ranching belt. His investment in the Rumuruti plant alone is valued at over Ksh 6 billion.