By Kimani Kuria
A recent report by Oxfam International, a global charity organisation, listed the top five richest people in Kenya with Sameer Merali being at the apex. The scion of the late billionaire Dr. Naushad Noorali Merali estimated net worth is US$790 million, an equivalent of Sh89.6 billion. The astute business mogul has steered his family to venture into various economic industries such as telecommunication and IT, energy and power, manufacturing, agriculture and agribusiness, real estate, civil works and construction, finance, commerce and general trading. In this article, WoK looks at the multi-billion businesses owned by Sameer Merali and his family.
The Conglomerate: The Sameer Group of Companies
Dr. Naushad N. Merali is the founding owner of the Sameer Group of Companies, a leading conglomerate in Kenya whose presence spreads across East Africa. Sameer Group of Companies is in the Agriculture and Agribusiness sector, Trading and Commerce, Construction and Engineering, Commercial and Leasing, EPZs, Energy and Real Estate. This conglomerate comprises 15 Kenyan companies and its current annual turnover stands at over USD 1.5billion. The group has created more than 23,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and attributes its tremendous success to Sameer Investments Ltd.
Sameer is the current Chief Executive Officer of Sameer Investments Limited.
Sasini PLC
Sasini PLC is a publicly quoted company that is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The company has over 6,000 shareholders, majority of whom are Kenyans.The primary business of Sasini PLC includes growing, processing and value addition of tea, coffee, avocado, macadamia nuts for both local retail and export markets. The company operates several tea warehousing facilities in Mombasa.
Sameer Agriculture & Livestock (Kenya) Ltd
Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Limited, SALL, is a joint venture of Sameer group and Rj Corp. located in Nairobi, Kenya whose business is in Cattle Ranching and Farming Industry. The company generates approximately US$ 2.73 million in sales revenue. SALL is behind dairy products brands such as Slurrp, Creamy, Daima and Creambell.
Also Read: Rai Family: Siblings Fight Over Late Father’s Multi-billion Empire
Sameer Africa PLC
Sameer Africa PLC too is a public limited company that was initially incorporated in Kenya in the year 1969 under its former name, Firestone East Africa Limited. The company deals in importation and sale of tyres and related products alongside other investments. Sameer Africa PLC’s operations are mainly based in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi creating work opportunities for over 30,000 people. Among the tyre brands under this company is the SUMMIT tyres.
Eveready East Africa PLC
Eveready East Africa PLC is the largest supplier of portable power solutions in East Africa whose headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya and was founded in 1967. The company is a public limited liability that owns two subsidiaries namely Flamingo Properties Uganda Limited and Flamingo Properties Limited.
Also Read: Dr. Swarup Mishra Biography: Came To Kenya With Ksh 50K, Now Worth Over Ksh10 Billion
Warren Enterprises Limited
Warren Enterprises Limited is a Kenyan Engineering Company that runs mega projects involving covered or uncovered pressed steel sectional water tanks, above and underground water storage tanks, shade netting and greenhouse equipment, above and underground fuel storage tanks, agricultural and industrial trailers, mobile and stationary water bowsers, industrial pumps and waste disposal engineering systems, irrigation systems and equipment installation, water purification systems, engines and crop processing machinery, drawbar trailers, all kinds of steel structures, customised truck bodies and semi-trailers.
Ryce East Africa Ltd
Ryce East Africa is a company that has been distributing the 1966 founded French- based KOHLER-SDMO power generators since 1995. To date, the company has sold more than 2500 Dg sets to the private clients and over 1200 Generators to the telecom network operations. Ryce East Africa Ltd has over 50 years experience in the auto industry and their leasing service has also been in operation for more than 10 years.
Also Read: Narendra Raval Biography: Billionaire Who Rides Boda Boda And Owns Five Suits
Yansam East Africa Ltd
Yansam East Africa Ltd is a fully owned subsidiary of Ryce East Africa Ltd that has been in operation for more than 50 years in Kenya. Yansam’s goal is to provide a high quality, serviceable and sustainable range of products for the East African market that includes Mahindra Powerol generators, JMC commercial vehicles and B2 commuter motorbikes.
Aristocrats Concrete Limited
Aristocrats Concrete Limited is a company that was founded in 1996 situated along Funzi Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi. The company operates a 62-acre commercial quarry off Mlolongo Town about 25 Kms from Nairobi and the primary business is manufacturing and supplying of urban blasting for excavation works, premix concrete, civil engineering contractors, aggregates, precast cement products, civil excavation works, construction of houses/apartments, road construction contractors and property development services.
Also Read: The Multi-Billion Businesses The Top Five Richest Men In Kenya Control
Sameer Industrial Park Limited
Sameer Industrial Park, SIP, was established in 1991, with a showroom complex sitting on 8.8 acres along Mombasa Road, Nairobi. SIP provides investment facilities of the highest standards, stellar investor support services and managing a world-class industrial park that is home to global companies seeking remarkable and conducive environment to operate in.
Sameer Business Park
Sameer Business Park, an ultra-modern building, is one of Kenya’s leading investment buildings that is strategically located right next to Sameer export processing zone. The business park is just 15 minutes drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and offers approximately 500,000 sq. ft of office and showroom space. The world-class business lifestyle environment offered in the business park also includes a helipad.
Also Read: 5 Star Hotels in Nairobi And Their Owners
Nandi Tea Estates Limited
Nandi Tea Estate is a private company that specialises in growing and processing high-quality Kenyan tea that is situated in Nandi County, North Rift Valley in Kenya. The high quality tea has gained a global market preference for the unique flavour, thick liquoring and deep colour attributes.
Other Businesses and Companies
- Frontier Optical Networks Ltd
- Rivaan Centre
- Muthaiga Heights
- PESABAZAAR.com
