Keroche owner, Kiereini in line for Kenya@50 top award

Tabitha Karanja CEO Keroche Brewaries displays a bottle of of Summit Malt at a pasty event. She is one of the business owners nominated to be feted as Kenya’s influential personalities during the country’s celebration of 50 years of Independence. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By MUGAMBI MUTEGI

In Summary

• The owner of Keroche Breweries and tycoons Manu Chandaria and Jeremiah Kiereini are the only business owners nominated to be feted as Kenya’s influential personalities during the country’s celebration of 50 years of Independence
• The three entrepreneurs are among 36 Kenyans picked from the fields of religion, literary works, science, public service and sports for the most outstanding and influential Kenyans award on December 12.
• They have been nominated for either building successful businesses from scratch or helping steer some of Kenya’s top firms

The owner of Keroche Breweries and tycoons Manu Chandaria and Jeremiah Kiereini are the only business owners nominated to be feted as Kenya’s influential personalities during the country’s celebration of 50 years of Independence.

The three entrepreneurs are among 36 Kenyans picked from the fields of religion, literary works, science, public service and sports for the most outstanding and influential Kenyans award on December 12.

They have been nominated for either building successful businesses from scratch or helping steer some of Kenya’s top firms.

Mrs Tabitha Karanja, the owner and CEO of Keroche Breweries, has been tapped for her ambitious fight with Diageo-backed East African Breweries Limited (EABL) for control of Kenya’s beer market with her Naivasha-based firm.

“...the National and County Governments and Judiciary Honours Advisory Committee hereby publishes the names of persons proposed to be nominated for the conferment of national honours...and invites any views on, or objections to the proposals of the committee,” a notice published in the newspapers read in a part.

Mr Kiereini, who spent nearly 50 years in government and in the business sector, is among Kenya’s wealthiest men with interests in real estate, coffee farming and the hotel industry. He retired from public service in 1984.

Mr Kiereini, 83, teamed up with former President Daniel arap Moi and former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo to make waves of acquisition in corporate Kenya through an investment vehicle called African Liaison and Consultant Services which epitomised the close links between business and politics in the 1980s.

He is listed as the chairman of African Liaision and Consultant Services whose key investments includes 30.3 per cent stake in CFC Life Insurance where he has a direct stake of 1.02 per cent.

Mr Moi, Mr Njonjo and Mr Kiereini had interests in CMC Motors and CFC Holdings, which owns CFC Bank and CFC Insurance. Mr Kiereini had a 12.5 per cent stake in CMC.

Philanthropist Chandaria, 84, was picked for his contribution to Kenya’s economy through Comcraft Group —a $2.5 billion industrial behemoth, which produces steel, plastics, and aluminium products in 45 countries.

His Kenyan stable includes Mabati Rolling Mills and Kaluworks Ltd. He is among the few Kenyan billionaires who have built wealth without relying deeply on political links.

The tycoon is also Kenya’s biggest philanthropist with his Chandaria Foundation, giving away millions of dollars to causes in education, health and the arts.

Safaricom Limited is the only Nairobi Securities Exchange—listed firm to be nominated for the award of Kenya’s most outstanding firm that includes Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, Kikuyu Mission Hospital and African Medical Research Foundation (Amref).

Mrs Karanja launched Keroche Breweries in October 2008 and today, the company has several brands of beer, wine and spirits including its flagship brand Summit. She is currently undertaking a Sh2.5 billion expansion of the Naivasha-based firm to address distribution challenges.