Politicians in Kenya are easily among the wealthiest individuals in the country thanks to their vast investments, huge salaries and perks, and connections and business relations developed during their tenures in public office.
A number of politicians in the country have come out to publicly declare their wealth while others have had identities of their properties leaked to general public. These may include companies, bank account details, hotels and entertainment spots, transport and logistics companies, real estate companies, land among others.
Here are some of the apartments owned by Kenyan politicians as researched and compiled by WoK.
Evans Kidero – Gem Suites Riverside apartments
The former Nairobi Governor is reportedly worth Ksh9 billion. According to investigations conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the ex-governor who held office between March 27, 2013, and August 21, 2017, owns eleven posh vehicles, the Yala Towers, and hundreds of acres of land. However, it is the apartments he owns in Nairobi that made headlines when EACC probed how the politician acquired property during his tenure in office.
According to the court documents, the apartment attracts rent of Ksh540,000 monthly paid in dollars.
“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,” EACC said in court documents filed at the anti-corruption court.
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, 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.
In a past incident, Jomo Gecaga, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cousin made headlines 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 Ksh9,500.
DP William Ruto – O’sere Flats-Legend Management
A report by Daily Nation in 2018 titled ‘Ruto to lose millions of shillings in rent as new police housing plan comes into force’, revealed that the DP- through Legend Management LTD-had rented out 72 units at Osere Flats in Ongata Rongai for a sum of Ksh16million annually. The lease ran from December 12, 2017, to December 7, 2020.
Further reports indicate that the second in command is the owner of another O’sere flat (98 units) which is managed by Matiny Ltd, a company where the DP’s daughter Charlene Ruto is a director.
He is also reported to be the owner of Easton flats (100) units and is managed by legend management.
William Kabogo
Kabogo is among the wealthiest Kenyans. The businessman is not shy of flaunting his hard-earned money. He resides along Kiambu Road and drives expensive vehicles.
The former governor is the man behind the million-dollar Iguta Paradise Homes situated in the leafy suburbs of Runda along Kiambu road. The investment which started in 2018 consists of 60 units of 4 bedroom houses with each unit sitting on a 1/8 acre piece of land.
Each villa boasts of an en-suite bedroom, master bedroom with a walk-in closet, private balcony, 3 parking spaces, a fully equipped private gym, home office, solar water heating, steam rooms with Jacuzzi and sauna, a video door phone with intercom linked to the gatehouse, provision of panic button, alarm sensors in all bedrooms and a main entrance lobby space.
Other amenities include indoor entertainment, a party area with an outdoor barbeque area, two outdoor swimming pools, landscaped green spaces and jogging/walking tracks.
According to the Iguta homes website, the homes are going for between Sh40 million and 44 million. This means with full occupancy, the project will rake in Kabogo’s pockets over 2.5 billion shillings.
In March 2021, Kabogo invited his long term buddy President Uhuru Kenyatta for a tour of the million-dollar project located near Evergreen Park and Paradise Lost. The tour of the president to the project raised speculations in the internet but an insider of the president came out to clarify that it was just a friendly meeting.
“They have been friends for a very long time and sometimes friends meet to talk about all manner of stuff. There is no official report because sometimes Kenyans must accept the fact that the president also has friends, who he can consult,” the insider said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta & family
In October 2021, BBC in collaboration with a number of scribes under the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released a report dubbed Pandora Papers, which exposed assets stashed by world leaders abroad. The report included assets owned by the Kenyatta family.
The expose revealed that the Kenyatta family owns a Ksh152 million house in the UK. The luxurious house is owned by a company called Milrun International Limited.
According to a report by BBC, the said company was established by former first lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta and her two daughters, Kristina and Anna in 1999.
Alcogal provided a registered office for Milrun on the largest of the BVI islands, Tortola, and supplied staff members to act as the company’s official directors. This birthed an entirely anonymous company that could not be traced back to the Kenyatta family.
This company was allegedly used by Mama Ngina and her daughters to purchase the apartment which is in central London, which it still owns, according to filings at the UK Land Registry seen by Finance Uncovered.
The prime property, which was until recently rented by British Labour MP Emma Ann Hardy, is now estimated to be worth close to $1.3m (approximately Ksh152 million).
Read More on the article here: The Ksh152 Million Mansion Owned By The Kenyatta Family in the UK
The Kirinyaga Governor is also said to own a flat in Kitengela which is complete with CCTV cameras and a borehole. She has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
