What Amario's kin, girlfriend received from Sh760m estate

Fai Amario- born Gilbert Njoroge Ng'ang'a, was a Naivasha tycoon, who captured the imagination of many with his unrestrained and lavish lifestyle that bordered on the fanatic.

Amario was the founder of a multi-million shillings empire that he amassed in the alternative alcohol business- established in Naivasha in the 1980s.

According to previous interviews and publications, he started producing Rumulika (derived from rum and liquor), a pineapple-based wine- under the banner Amarillo wineries.

But after 12 years in the business, the businessman took a break and enrolled at the Israel Wine Institute in Rehovot.

He returned to the country and began distilling brands such as Amario's Sherry, Pooler, Medusa, Uhuru 2000, Kata Pingu, Mahewa and Cantata.

He established a wine and spirit distribution network in Mt Kenya and parts of the Rift Valley.

His products adopted interesting marketing gimmicks like pictures of his hand-cuffed self in a farmer's cap in what is locally referred to as the "Jaramogi" cap.

On stickers of the plastic bottles, it read; "drink Amario's Sherry and know why birds fly."

There were many stories of Amario's dramatic life.

And one of them is that he placed newspaper adverts in the dailies while seeking a wife.

In 1996, Amario was subject of controversy when he was accused of murdering his two employees.

One of those killed was Gitau Karho, a deputy manager at one of his depots in central Kenya.

According to court records on the murder trial, Karago was said to have called Amario in 1995 to inform him that Sh212,000 was missing from his sales.

In response, Amario sacked Karago together with Makimei Njoroge, who was the depot manager.

A week later, Karago was found dead in Naivasha with a six-inch nail hammered into his head.

Njoroge, who was found unconscious, survived and identified Amario as one of the attackers.

In 2004, officers from the then dreaded Flying Squad CID unit raided Amario's Naivasha home on suspicion of murdering his wife, Sarah Wanjiu.

Wanjiru was suspected to have been buried in the highly secured compound.

But after digging for hours, the officers were shocked to discover various motor vehicle parts buried in the compound.

Also discovered were ten unlicensed shotguns in a bedroom, seven brand new but dismantled Toyota Prado and Mitsubishi four-wheel drive vehicles, as well as 20 computers.

In 2005, Amario was sentenced to nine years in Kamiti Maximum Prison even as he threatened the magistrate and police officers handling his case who were offered extra security by the state.

While serving his sentence, the businessman appeared to have changed his ways.

But the worst was to come when the tycoon was charged with robbing businessman Mulraj Kanji Patel of his Utility Sports Vehicle (USV), a Toyota Land Cruiser, two rust watches, a gold necklace, a bracelet, two cell phones and cash Sh22,000, all valued at Sh2.8 million.

He also faced charges of being the mastermind of a car theft syndicate. Amario was released after serving three years.

He died in 2010 and was buried in a gold casket he bought for himself. Amario had laid a detailed plan for his burial.

- Additional reporting by Steve Mkawale