Late businessman Njenga Karume’s business empire was an intricate web of properties, hotels, real estates, farms and shares strewn across hordes of publicly listed companies.
The most popular entities associated with Karume is perhaps Jacaranda Hotel Limited in Westlands, which sits on a 3.5 acre prime plot. Cianda House, located on Koinange Street in the city centre, is another of renowned Karume properties. It is an eleven floor building acquired over 30 years ago and which is rented out to various tenants.
Few people would have known that other than Jacaranda, Karume owned a number of other properties in Westlands area of the city. Amani House, located on Sports Road, Westlands, is also Karume’s property.
Cianda House was not the only building Karume owned in the city centre. He also owned Unity House on Mfangano Street.
In Mombasa, Karume owned the Indian Ocean Beach Resort located along the Diani beach in South Coast. The resort has a beach frontage of circa 300 metres and sits on a 29 acre property registered under Jacaranda Hotel (Msa) Limited.
In Nakuru, Karume owned Lake Elementaita Lodge in Gilgil overlooking the lake. The lodge sits on approximately 300 acres of land owned by Karume. The lodge had been built in 1916 by Galbraith Lowry Egerton Cole, who was exiled after he shot dead a farm labourer for stealing his favourite Merino rams.
He later sneaked back to the ranch where he eventually shot himself at his favourite viewpoint.
In the Masai Mara, Karume owned 50 acres of land under the Jacaranda Hotel, which the trust plans to develop.
In his native Kiambu County, Karume ran Village Inn Restaurant situated approximately a kilometre from the main Kiambu Road. The hotel was built in 1968 on a five acre piece of land. It is reported in the PWC report as having had a special place in Karume’s heart. “Village Inn was an establishment that was held for sentimental reasons by Karume, and therefore despite its poor performance, has kept it running,” the PWC report of 2012 stated.
In agricultural sector, Karume invested in Cianda Estate totaling 250 acres, in which he grew coffee and tea. He also owned another 616 acres of tea plantation known as Kacharoba. The farm sold its harvested green leaves to Ngorongo Tea Factory, which he technically owned.
Karume owned 20 per cent of the factory while Kacharoba, the tea farm he owned, held 20 per cent shares. Still in Kiambu, Karume owned five properties in the town centre, two commercial and residential properties along Kiambu/Ndumberi Road and three residential properties on Kanunga Road.
At the time of his death in early 2012, Karume’s Gracia Limited was constructing apartment blocks consisting of 120 houses in Kiambu, which at the time was being eyed by the Administration Police for purchase.
In Limuru town, Karume owned four properties. In Kinangop town he had a commercial property rented out. He also owned Maringo Estate along Jogoo Road in Nairobi, two parcels of land in Njoro, two parcels of land in Dagoretti and huge parcel of land in North Coast.
Besides, the man had valuable shares in many companies among them Highlands Hotel, Agricultural and Industrial Holdings Limited, Bamburi Cement, Bata Shoe Company, Cuflex Mills, Fidelity Export and Import, Heri Limited, Inland Beach Enterprises, Kentmere (1986) Limited and KCC.
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Others are Kenya Farmers Association, Kenya Grain Growers Limited, Miraa Growers Limited, Kenya Wine Agencies, Nation Media Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Pelican Insurance Brokers, Wiggins Teape Kenya Limited, Rhino Tiles Limited, all estimated at billions of shillings.
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