The Kenyatta Family Wealth Structure.

The Kenyatta Family windfall came from the first President of the Republic of Kenya,  Jomo Kenyatta. Much has been written about how the initial wealth was “acquired”, but of greater importance is how the wealth has been maintained, distributed and expanded. Notable of the first family are the branch from Mama Ngina Kenyatta. However, from piecing together data available online, the family has three distinct pillars, namely;

• Jomo Kenyatta
• James Muigai
• Senior Chief Gabriel Gathecha Muhoho

The diagram below shows the family tree from Jomo Kenyatta.

Cooperative Games
How did the wealth grow? – Game Theory.

In Game Theory (a study of conflict and cooperation) , there is a class of strategies known as cooperative games that model negotiations and bargaining between two parties to achieve equilibrium. In cooperative game theory, we abstract from individual players’ strategies and instead focus on the coalition players may form.

Senior Chief Gathecha Muhoho was the father to Mama Ngina Kenyatta, but more importantly also the father to George Muhoho (former Director of KAA) and Paul Gathecha, an entrepreneur mentioned in the NYS scandal. In 2004, George Muhoho was appointed Director of KAA by former President Mwai Kibaki. Later, Brookside Dairies became the sole supplier of dairy products to Kenya Airways (coincidence?)

A year earlier, President Mwai Kibaki appointed John Patrick Kamau as a judge to the high court. John Patrick Kamau is the son to Margaret Wambui Kenyatta, daughter to Jomo Kenyatta’s first wife Grace Wahu. While, this might have been a coincidence or a well deserved appointment, cooperative game theory would yield a positive for coalition given Uhuru Kenyatta’s support for President Kibaki during the 2007 election. Same year Muhoho Kenyatta was appointed member of the Kenya Dairy Board for a period of three (3) years with the effect from 18th June, 2003 by Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development J.K Munyao

The first step to forming an empire is having strong allies. Jomo Kenyatta married from two powerful families, Grace Wanjiku, daughter to Senior Chief Koinange wa Mbiyu (grandfather to Jeff Koinange) and Mama Ngina, daughter to Senior Chief Muhoho wa Gathecha. In the early colonial period, Senior Chiefs controlled a lot of resources and were equal to the later provincial administrators. Jane ‘Jeni’ Wambui,  daughter to Mama Ngina married to former Director of Lonhro Udi Gecaga, a renowned entrepreneur.

Political Office
Since independence, a member of the three pillars has always held an elective  position at any given time.

1. Jomo Kenyatta
   Prime Minister, Republic of Kenya (1963 – 1964)
   President, Republic of Kenya
   (1963 – 1978)
2. Margaret Kenyatta
   Daughter to Jomo Kenyatta’s First Wife Grace Wahu
   Councillor, Dagoretti Ward
   Mayor, Nairobi (1970 – 1976)
   Kenyan Representative to UNEP (1976 – 1986)
   Commissioner, Electoral Commission of Kenya (1992 – 2002)
3. Ann Nyokabi Gathecha
   Daughter to Paul Muhoho Gatheca (Mama Ngina’s elder brother)
   Woman Representative, Kiambu County (2013 – 2017)
4. Beth Wambui Mugo
   Daughter to James Mugai (Jomo Kenyatta’s brother)
   Member of Parliament, Dagoretti (1997 – 2013)
   Cabinet Minister (2008 – 2013)
   Nominated Senator (2013 – 2017)
5. Peter Muigai Kenyatta
   Son to Jomo Kenyatta’s first wife Grace Wahu
   Member of Parliament, Juja Constituency (1969 – 1974)
   Assistant minister for Foreign Affairs (1974 – 1979)
6. Ngengi Muigai
   Son to James Muigai (Jomo Kenyatta’s brother)
   Member of Parliament, Gatundu (1979 – 1988
7. Uhuru Kenyatta
   Son to Jomo Kenyatta’s 4th Wife Mama Ngina
   Member of Parliament, Gatundu (2002 – 2007)
   Cabinet Minister, Finance (2007 – 2013)
   President, Republic of Kenya (2013 – Present)

Enterprise and Property
James Muigai
2,000 acres, Kiambu
1,000 acres, Rongai

Ngengi Muigai
Muiru Coffee Estate, LR No 12411/1, Kiambu
Benjoh Amalgamated Ltd
Sceneries Limited
Flame Valley Limited, Reg No. 63364
Cucy Endo Limited, Reg No 71384
Edgar Edwards Limited, Reg No. 61565
Dalmatour Limited
Wairyma Investment Limited, Reg No. 71644

Peter Muigai Kenyatta
169 acres,Ruiru  LR No. 10902/1
Inchcape Limited

Paul Muhoho Gathecha
321 acres, Ruiru

Nyoike Njoroge Muigai
10 acres Ichaweri

Beth Wambui Mugo
Beth International Limited

Mike Gathecha
Juja Capital Centre
Capital Lounge & Sports

Patrick John Kamau
Brown Hill Management, Reg No. 77648

Uhuru & Muhoho Kenyatta
Chartis Insurance
Peponi School
Mediamax
Timsales Holdings
Enke Investment Limited (25% of CBA)
Brookside Dairies Limited
Heritage Hotels
Great Rift Valley Lodge, Naivasha
Voyageur Beach Resort
Tented Camps
Mara Explore
Mara Intrepids
Samburu Intepids
Voyager Ziwani
Beach Hotels
Kipengoni Explorer

10,000 acres Gichea Farm, Gatundu
5,000 acres, Thika
9,000 acres, Kasarani- Mwiki
5,000 acres, Muthaita Farm
24,000 acres, Taveta
50,000 acres, Taita
29,000 acres, Kahawa Sukari
10,000 acres ranch, Naivasha
52,000 acres, Nakuru
10,000 acres, Rumuruti
40,000 acres, Endebes

Question: How big will the empire grow? Forbes estimate put’s the fortune Kshs 500 billion as of 2011