Kisumu is Kenya’s third-largest city and home to over 500,000 residents.
As Nyanza’s main commercial hub, the lakeside city’s skyline features several malls, hotels, factories, restaurants, and real estate projects.
In this article, WoK features six tycoons behind some of Kisumu’s Biggest Businesses and Properties
- The Late Sadrudin Manji Gilani & Amin Gilani
For more than four years, the Gilani name has quietly carried its financial weight in the bustling Central Business District (CBD) of Kisumu.
Led by the late Sadrudin Manji Gilani and later his son Amin Gilani, the family built one of the largest multibillion empires that the lakeside city has seen.
The family’s crown property is the iconic Sarova Imperial Hotel, located along the Jomo Kenyatta Highway.
They also own the Imperial Hotel Express, which is located along Oginga Odinga Street.
Additionally, the Gilani family own Sunblest, one of the largest industrial bakeries in the Western and Nyanza region.
- Surendra Patel
Anyone who has ever driven into Kisumu along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway or bought a mattress anywhere in Western Kenya has probably interacted with the business empire of Surendra Patel.
The billionaire started out manufacturing everyday household and construction goods before venturing into real estate and agriculture.
Today, he owns several businesses in Kisumu, including Foam Mattresses Limited, the factory behind the Tuff Foam mattresses brand.
Patel also owns the Tuff Foam Mall, located along the Kakamega road.
He also owns several factories that manufacture steel products and plastic PVC pipes used in water supply and construction across Kisumu.
- Dipak Panachand Shah & Mitesh Shah
Whenever retail giants like Carrefour, Naivas, or Quickmart are looking for floor space in Kisumu, the Shah family is usually their first point of contact.
In 1996, the duo founded the Mega Properties Group, a conglomerate of companies that pioneered the Mall concept in Nyanza and Western Kenya.
Today, they own the Mega Plaza, a major landmark in Kisumu’s CBD that houses offices, retail complexes, government offices, banks, supermarkets, among other businesses.
Their other landmark property is Mega City Mall, which is located near the Nyamasaria-Kondele bypass junction and is a favourite spot for international retailers entering Kisumu.
The Shah family’s business assets expand beyond Kisumu to other towns like Kakamega, Kitale, and Nairobi.
- William McTough & James McTough
The story of how Kisumu’s hospitality sector has grown into a multibillion business empire cannot be told without mentioning the McTough brothers, William and the late James McTough.
The billionaire brothers are credited with pioneering the city’s modern nightlife and themed hotels.
One of their landmark properties is Scottish Tartan Hotel, a five-storey hotel located along the Kisumu–Busia highway.
They also own the four-star Sovereign Hotel in Milimani, which has become the go-to retreat for diplomats and VIPs.
William McTough also runs the running the Praying Mantis security firm, Octopus nightclub, and Edna’s Guest House in Awasi.
- William Osewe Guda (“K’Osewe”)
K’Osewe’s is the classic rags-to-riches story.
From a small kiosk, he is credited with building the famous Ranalo Foods empire, which makes and serves traditional Luo delicacies like fresh tilapia and ugali to presidents, tycoons, and diplomats.
The hotel chain’s flagship lakeside branch is located on Tom Mboya Drive, in Milimani, and has been the subject of several court battles.
K’Osewe also owns the four-star Blue Waters Hotel complex, valued in court documents at up to Sh2 billion.
- Adil Popat
Billionaire Adil Popat owns the five-star Acacia Premier Hotel, located on Achieng’ Oneko Road in Milimani.
WoK has previously identified Popat as the owner of the flagship Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi.
The Acacia property features 94 luxury rooms, rooftop lounges overlooking Lake Victoria, and presidential suites.
Popat also owns several showrooms, service centers, and real estate assets in Kisumu, which deal in selling vehicles and tractors to Western Kenya’s sugar and transport industries.