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10 assets owned by Kenya’s largest landholders, Kenyatta family

Driven by the vision for Kenya’s development, the Kenyattas have strategically invested in sectors crucial to the nation’s growth, from infrastructure to agriculture.

Uhuru Kenyatta

Table of Contents


Key Points

  • The Kenyatta family owns over 500,000 acres of prime agricultural land, including tea plantations, sisal farms, and a 13,000-hectare ranch in Kiambu County.
  • With a 13.2% stake in NCBA Group, the Kenyattas are major players in East Africa's banking sector, driving innovation and regional expansion.
  • Brookside Creamery, co-owned by the Kenyattas, controls 60% of Kenya's dairy market, solidifying their influence in East Africa's agricultural industry.

The Kenyatta family, one of Kenya’s most influential families, has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s economic and political landscape. Their legacy, which has evolved alongside Kenya’s growth from independence to modernity, spans key sectors including finance, agriculture, media, and real estate.

At the forefront of this influential empire are matriarch Ngina Kenyatta, affectionately known as “Mama Ngina,” and her sons Muhoho Kenyatta and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Together, they’ve preserved and expanded the family’s influence, making it one of the most powerful economic forces in Africa.

The family’s legacy began with Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president and the country’s founding father. His leadership from 1963 to 1978 laid the foundation for the Kenyatta family’s enduring dominance. Driven by his vision for Kenya’s development, the Kenyattas have strategically invested in sectors crucial to the nation’s growth, from infrastructure to agriculture.

As one of Africa’s wealthiest families, the Kenyattas hold extensive landholdings, including more than 500,000 acres of prime agricultural property. Their agricultural assets, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, include vast tea plantations, sisal farms, and a 13,000-hectare ranch in Kiambu County, solidifying their position as major players in the agriculture sector. Ngina Kenyatta herself is recognized as one of the wealthiest women in agriculture on the continent.

While their immense fortune has sparked some controversy, the Kenyatta family’s influence on Kenya’s economy is indisputable. Their ventures have provided jobs, driven economic growth, and shaped Kenya’s business environment, making them a central figure in the nation’s economic story.

In this report, Billionaire.Africa explores the 10 key assets that define the Kenyatta family’s vast holdings. These include sprawling agricultural estates and groundbreaking financial investments, each contributing to the family’s wealth and their lasting impact on Kenya’s present and future.


  1. Landholdings

The Kenyatta family is one of East Africa's most biggest private landowners, with vast estates spanning over 500,000 acres. This includes prime agricultural land in key regions such as Kiambu, Rift Valley, and the coastal belt. The family’s investments are heavily focused on high-value sectors like export agriculture and livestock farming. Mama Ngina Kenyatta, in particular, manages significant holdings, including expansive tea plantations, sisal farms, and a 13,000-hectare ranch in Kiambu County, making her one of the leading agricultural tycoons in East Africa.


  1. NCBA Group

Owning a 13.2 percent stake in NCBA Group, the Kenyattas are key figures in Kenya's banking sector. With over 217 million shares, they play a central role in the institution's regional expansion across East and West Africa. NCBA’s groundbreaking services, like the M-Shwari mobile savings platform, underscore the family's ongoing influence in modern financial services, further positioning them as a major force in the East African economy.


  1. Brookside Creamery

Brookside Creamery, established in 1993, has grown to become East Africa's leading milk processor, commanding over 60 percent of Kenya's dairy market. Through a strategic partnership with French multinational Danone, which owns a 40 percent stake, the Kenyatta family maintains a controlling interest of 50 percent. Brookside’s dominance in dairy production and its acquisitions of regional dairies cements its leadership, reinforcing the Kenyatta family's standing as key agricultural magnates in the region.


  1. Enke Investments

Enke Investments Ltd., based in Nairobi, serves as the family’s main investment vehicle, overseeing diversified interests across sectors in Kenya. This entity ensures the Kenyattas’ sustained presence in the nation's business ecosystem, supporting their wealth generation and growth strategies across multiple industries.


  1. Mediamax Network Limited

The Kenyatta family’s media influence is amplified through Mediamax Network Limited, a leading independent media conglomerate in East Africa. The family controls prominent platforms such as K24 TV, Kameme FM, and The People Daily, ensuring their strong foothold in the media landscape, and further cementing their role in shaping public discourse across the region.


  1. Heritage Hotel Limited  

In the hospitality sector, the Kenyattas’ Heritage Group of Hotels stands as a hallmark of luxury. Comprising seven premium establishments, including the Mara Explorer Camp, The Great Rift Valley Lodge (which features an 18-hole golf course), and Voyager Beach Resort in Mombasa, this venture underscores their strategic entry into high-end tourism, appealing to elite clientele across Africa and beyond.


  1. Northlands City

One of the family’s most ambitious projects, Northlands City, is a $5 billion property development on 11,000 acres just outside Nairobi. Once completed, the city is expected to house over 250,000 residents and create thousands of jobs, showcasing the Kenyattas’ bold vision for urban development and their integral role in shaping Kenya's future growth.


  1. Timsales Corporation

Timsales Corporation, located in Nakuru, is a leading player in Kenya's timber industry, providing essential materials such as plywood, fiberboards, and wooden poles for infrastructure projects, including electricity distribution by Kenya Power. This venture further solidifies the Kenyatta family's key influence in the construction and energy sectors, which are crucial to Kenya’s ongoing development.


  1. Peponi School

Peponi School, one of Kenya's premier private educational institutions, is part of the Kenyatta family's portfolio. The school, renowned for its excellence in both academics and infrastructure, attracts wealthy families and influential leaders, securing the family's legacy in shaping Kenya’s future generations of elite business and political leaders.


  1. Tourism and Agricultural-Industrial Enterprises 

The Kenyattas have further diversified their portfolio into agro-industrial ventures, capitalizing on Kenya’s rich agricultural resources. Their tea estates, sisal plantations, and animal husbandry operations enhance their standing as one of the most influential land-owning families in Africa. Through these businesses, the Kenyattas are central to Kenya's agricultural economy and have a direct hand in the country's industrialization efforts.


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