By Isaac Blessings
Richard Ngatia is a man of means who is well connected in the highest echelons of power. The billionaire serial entrepreneur has heavily invested in the healthcare and hospitality sector. Mr Ngatia is a close associate of President Uhuru Kenyatta and has set his eyes on the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming general elections.
In this article, WoK brings you the story of one of the richest men in Kenya.
Who is Richard Ngatia?
Richard Ngatia is a renowned businessman and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Megascope Healthcare – a major corporate player in the healthcare industry in Kenya and across Africa. The company secured a lucrative tender in 2018 to supply theater equipment to all county hospitals in the country. The company has grown to establish itself in other countries in East and Southern Africa where it controls a major share of the market. It provides hospital design solutions, construction and equips established hospitals with state of the art equipment as well as offering staff training and development.
Currently, the company boasts of an equipment maintenance portfolio of 98 percent of theater equipment contained in over 115 hospitals in Kenya. According to the company’s website, Megascope has partnered with other big brands and companies to provide medical solutions not only in Kenya but the entire continent. The companies include Neusoft, Heinen + Lowenstein, Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical, Tuttnaur, KaVo Dental, Stephanix, Ottobock and Steridium of Australia.
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Other Interests and positions
The Billionaire owns the famous Galileo Lounge situated in Westlands along Waiyaki way. In May 2019, Ngatia was elected as the President of Kenya National Chambers of Commerce (KNCC) after managing to convince almost 40 out of 47 chairpersons of the KNCCI county branches to support him which in turn led his competitors to retreat and watch as he clinched the position unopposed. He is also the chairman of International conference on Great Lakes Region – Private Sector Forum – IGGLR – PSF, deputy patron Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Association, board member East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and agriculture and also a Trustee of PERAK.
Association with President Uhuru Kenyatta
Richard Ngatia is a close confidant of President Uhuru and the two reportedly meet often at his house to share drinks together with other members of his ‘Boys Club.’ Among the members of the group include businessman Peter Muthoka, entrepreneur Stanley Kinyanjui, Jubilee deputy secretary general David Murathe and former Kiambu governor William Kabogo. In June 2017, he was among the billionaires who financed President Uhuru’s presidential campaign in the initiative dubbed ‘Friends of Jubilee Party Foundation.’
Joining Politics
The Businessman will be in the 2022 Nairobi gubernatorial race most likely under the Azimio la Umoja which is pushed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Rt. Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga. 2022 has been a busy year for him as he has been holding meetings with different groups of people. He has held engagement talks with over 3,000 students from higher learning institutions in Nairobi, talked with various women groups in Langata, met business representatives and traders from Embakasi East, South and Central constituencies and recently met a section of Member of County Assemblies (MCAs) drawn from both Jubilee and ODM Parties.
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The ODM party is expected to back a Mount Kenya gubernatorial candidate (Preferably Richard Ngatia) in exchange to the region’s support for Raila Odinga’s presidential bid. In a recent meeting with Nairobi traders held on 28th January 2022, Ngatia promised that if elected as governor, he would build markets in city estates to decongest the available markets and decrease the influx of traders from estates to the city Center.
“You do not have to come all the way from Eastlands to sell your products in the CBD. With the cooperation of MCAs, we can set aside funds to ensure there are modern markets in our estates,” the billionaire explained.
