Born in the United Kingdom, Richard Evans popularly known as Dicky Evans came to Africa by chance and ended up settling in Kenya after an unfortunate event where his colleagues were murdered in Uganda when the late Idi Amin overthrew Milton Obote’s government.
Having fallen in love with the Kenyan coast, Dicky settled in Watamu. He engaged in various sporting activities like golf, fishing, and rugby. His love for rugby saw him feature for the Kenyan national team and the East African rugby team.
He ventured into the hotel industry in November 1988 after convincing a British war veteran to sell him 22 acres of land which hosted a Seafarers hotel that was a favorite for locals.
He did a lot of upgrades and later renamed the establishment Hemingways in honor of famous author and explorer Ernest Hemingway.
In 2012, he expanded his hotel collection opening up Ol Seki Hemingways in the Mara which is a top tourist destination in the country.
A year later, he opened Hemingways Nairobi in Karen, which is now one of the top hotels in the continent thanks to its exclusivity, exquisite service, and great ambiance.
In addition to the luxurious hotels, the 75-year old billionaire also owns the UK rugby team Cornish Pirates.
Cumulatively, all the Hemingways business collection is approximated to be worth Sh6 billion; making Dicky Evans one of the wealthiest hoteliers in the country.
Aside from business, he is a father of three and always stays away from unwanted publicity; a trait that is shared by many billionaires across the globe.
His track record, hard work, and tenacity have seen him get several recognitions and appointments in the country.
During the late President Daniel Moi’s regime, Dicky Evans was appointed to the Presidential Economic Commission.
Under this role, he was able to work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His exemplary service saw him awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) in 1996.
Business-wise, he has been recognized as one of the top hoteliers in Africa. In 2004, he was awarded one of the top ten Most Respected CEOs in East Africa. The award by renowned audit firm Price Water House Coopers (PwC).
