Politicians in Kenya easily make it to the club of wealthiest individuals in the country. Their influence from positions of power has enabled a majority of them to bag lucrative deals, kickbacks, among several other business interests. This has enabled the leaders to amass huge tracts of land in various parts of the country.
A report by the Kenya Land Alliance indicated that 20 per cent of Kenya is arable, and 65 per cent of the arable land is owned by Kenya’s wealthy individuals.
WoK in this article takes a look at some of Kenya’s politicians who own huge parcels of land.
President Uhuru Kenyatta
The Kenyatta family is easily the wealthiest in Kenya, boasting vast interests in various sectors of the economy including; agriculture, media, real estate, banking and finance, and hospitality, among others. It is a well-known fact, that the family is among the largest land owners in Kenya with thousands of acres spread across the country.
A report by CIA that was made public in 2017, details the properties owned by Kenyatta by the time of his death in 1978. The report also stated that some of the land was listed under Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
The family is said to own about 500,000 acres of land.
Moi Family
Kenya’s second President the late Daniel Arap Moi followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, amassing thousands of acres of land.
The land reportedly owned by the family is as follows; Bahati in Nakuru-20,000 acres, Kabarak Farm-1,600 acres, Olenguruoni in Rift Valley-20,000 acres, Molo-20,000 acres, Bahati-3,000 acres, Nakuru-400 acres, and Ol Pajeta Farm-50,000 acres.
Basil Criticos
The former Taveta Member of Parliament has over the years had his fair share of challenges, battling court cases involving bank loans and land. However, the former lawmaker is still among the country’s largest land owners.
The Criticos ranch in Taita Taveta is said to be about 74,000 acres.
Kibaki Family
Late President Mwai Kibaki during his lifetime amassed huge parcels of land. This puts the Kibaki family in the conversation of the largest land owners in Kenya. The family owns 1,200 acres at Gingalily Farm along the Nakuru-Solai road. According to reports, Kibaki transferred 10,000 acres to himself when he was minister for Finance via STFS from Bruce Mckenzie who was then Agriculture minister.
The Kibaki family also owns 10,000 acres at Igwamiti and the same acreage in Rumuruti in Naivasha plus another 1,600 acres Ruare Ranch.
The late president is also said to have acquired another 20,000 acres in Nanyuki.
Nyachae Family
The late Simeon Nyachae was a prominent politician and one of the richest Kenyans. He boasted a vast investment portfolio that included properties and investments in various sectors of the economy both locally and abroad.
According to reports, Nyachae through his company Kabansora Holdings owned over 10,000 acres.
Willy Komen
The former Rongai Member of Parliament is among the largest land owners in Kenya. Komen is said to own 10,000 acres of land adjacent to the late President Moi’s Kabarak farm and 4,800ha in Njoro.
Munene Kairo
The late former Kieni Member of Parliament also boasted a huge parcel of land. The former lawmaker is said to have owned the 24,000 Samburu-buru ranch which is now reportedly managed by his friends.
Jackson “Harvester” Angaine
The late former Imenti North member of parliament who was known as the “King of Meru” was arguably one of the largest land owners in the country. According to reports, the former Cabinet Minister owned over 20,000 acres of land in Timau, Meru County where he cultivated wheat earning him the nickname “Harvester”.
His family is embroiled in a court battle with squatters over the ownership of 2,400 acres of land at Ontulili in Timau.
Mark Too
The late former politician was among the largest land owners in Kenya. After his demise, Too left behind 25,000 acres of land which has been subject to court battles between his widows, banks, and squatters.
Deputy President William Ruto
DP Ruto is arguably one of the wealthiest individuals in the country. Over the years, the humble chicken seller rose to amass vast wealth in a span of close to three decades.
Though not the size of what the Kenyattas or Mois own, DP Ruto has land in thousands of acres in various parts of the country. They include; the 2,536-acre Mata farm in taita Taveta which borders the vast Criticos ranch and Lake Jipe to the South. The DP grows maize and rears cattle on the farm.
Ruto also owns 1,000 acres of land in Narok County, where he borders President Kenyatta’s farm and Narok Governor Samuel Tunai’s home.
