By Prudence Minayo
Kenyans of Indian descent were recognized as the 44th tribe of Kenya in 2017. Largely, the Indian community in Kenya has shied away from politics but their entrepreneurial spirit reverberates across all the sectors of the country’s economy. There are several Kenyans of Indian origin who are among the richest men in Africa as well. Most of them own multi billion conglomerates with operations both within and outside Kenya.
Below is a list of some of the multi-billion companies in Kenyan owned by businessmen of Indian origin:
BIDCO Group of Companies
It was founded by Bhimji Depar Shah and has presence in about 17 African countries. The company’s headquarters are located in Thika. The products manufactured by the company include: edible oils, fats, animal feeds, food and beverages, margarine, personal care products, laundry bars and detergents.
In 2019, BBC reported that the move by BIDCO to venture into foods and beverages puts it in a position to become the leading manufacturer of consumer goods in East Africa. The CEO, Vimal Shah, is credited with the company’s growth into new markets and products.
Devki Group
Owned by Narendra Raval, the conglomerate majorly focuses on the manufacturing of building materials including cement aluminum and steel. It has subsidiaries in Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Narendra Raval began the company as a hardware in Gikomba in 1986.
Also Read: Kenyans Of Indian Origin Who Control The Economy Of Kenya
Also Read: Dr. Swarup Mishra Biography: Came To Kenya With Ksh 50K, Now Worth Over Ksh10 Billion
The companies of Devki Group include:
- Devki Steel Mills Ltd in Ruiru, Kenya.
- Northwood Aviation Limited in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Simba Cement Uganda Limited in Totoro Uganda.
- Maisha Mabati Mills Limited, Ruiru.
- National Cement Company Limited in Athi River, Kenya.
- ARM Cement Limited in Athi River, Kenya.
- Maisha Packaging Company Limited in Athi River, Kenya.
Transworld Safaris
This is one of the oldest safari tour companies in the country founded more than three decades ago. It is owned by Baloobhai Patel. They arrange specialised tours to suit individual requirements, like camel, cultural, photographic and bird watching Safaris or sport holidays for deep sea fishing, golfing and horse riding enthusiasts, nature walks and mountain climbing. It owns and operates a large fleet of custom-built safari mini buses, four-wheel drive vehicles and hot air balloons.
Simba Corporation
The company was taken over by Adit Popat following the death of his father Karim Popat in 2013. Simba Corporation is an empire that comprises of luxury hotels, auto dealership, engineering and financial services. They have sole distributorship in Kenya for Mitsubishi, Renault and Mahindra.
The group also owns Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi and Olare Mara Kempinski in Maasai Mara.
Also Read: Villa Rosa Kempinski Owner And His Net Worth
Comcraft Group
Comcraft group, of which Kaluworks is a subsidiary, is one of the largest conglomerates in East Africa. The group, chaired by Manu Chandaria, produces steel, plastics and aluminum products from its manufacturing facilities in over 15 countries. It employs about 30,000 people in 45 countries in 5 continents.
Kaluworks is one of Kenya’s largest manufacturer of aluminum utensils and roofing sheets.
Sameer Group
Naushad N. Merali is the founder and chairman of Sameer Group. The conglomerate is a leading economic force with major investment and successful operations in major sectors of the economy including power, finance, agribusiness, real estate and energy.
Its major subsidiaries include:
- Sasini tea and coffee
- Equatorial Commercial.Bank
- An IT firm called Kenya Data Networks Limited
- Tires manufacturer named Sameer Africa Limited.
- Savannah Coffee Lounge