Nelson Muguku and Leah Wanjiku founded and own the Waterfront Karen Mall in Nairobi City County. The late Muguku made his wealth from poultry farming and was one of the top investors in Kenya.
The Waterfront Karen sits on 50 acres in one of Nairobi’s most expensive areas and boasts over 200,000 square feet of lettable space.
It was reported in 2021 that the Muguku family was eyeing Ksh20 billion from a potential sale of the mall.
Wanjiku was a teacher, while Muguku was a lecturer when they met.
The lady taught at the Kagaa Primary School in Githunguri, Kiambu County, while Muguku worked at a nearby college.
Muguku resigned from his job in his mid-20s and ventured into the poultry farming business.
He started the venture with just Ksh2,000, two hens, and a cock.
He proposed to Wanjiku, and they got married around this period.
They were blessed with seven children a few years later.
Wanjiku also resigned from her teaching job in 1963 and joined her husband in poultry farming.
Starting a Poultry Farm
After two years, the couple had saved enough money to purchase a 2-acre farm.
They named the farm Star Ltd and started a hatchery with a 9,000-egg incubator.
Muguku and Wanjiku later named it Muguku Poultry Farm.
The couple supplied day-old chicks and eggs to many customers, including Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Muguku died in October 2010 at the age of 78.
They acquired a 6.08 percent stake in a local bank before its listing, making them the bank’s largest individual shareholders for years.
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Leah Wanjiku Wealth
In 2018, Knight Frank listed Wanjiku as one of the 23 women billionaires in the country.
According to reports, Wanjiku owns a 0.9 per cent stake in a local bank, which is estimated at Ksh1.2 billion.
She was previously ranked second among the top female traders on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, having traded Ksh306.9 million at the time.
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Waterfront Karen Mall Outstanding Features
Wanjiku is the current owner of the Waterfront Karen Mall, estimated to be worth Ksh3 billion.
The Mall is located 15 kilometers from Nairobi’s Central Business District.
It is known as a commercial, entertainment, and recreational hub. The mall offers stunning scenery as it overlooks the foothills of the Ngong Hills.
One of its unique features is a 3.5-acre man-made lake.
This has made the mall a favorite among many Nairobi residents, especially those with children.
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