Gachagua’s Ksh800 Million Empire Hidden in Hotels, Real Estate and Other Investments

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his family have built interests across several sectors, including hospitality, real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, medical supplies, and investments.

The family has been linked to a range of companies, hotels, farms, and property holdings across Kenya, with some businesses dating back more than two decades.

In 2022, Gachagua publicly declared a net worth of about KSh800 million.

According to Gachagua, properties linked to his name are associated with the family, especially his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, who left properties to the family.

Gachagua has also denied holding several properties, saying he is not associated with them and that he sold them.

Hotels and Property Holdings

The impeachment motion linked Gachagua and his family to several hotels and residential developments. The list included Outspan Hotel and Treetops Hotel in Nyeri, Olive Gardens Hotel and Queens Gate Serviced Apartments in Nairobi, and Vipingo Beach Resort in Kilifi County. It also cited Riara One Apartments on Riara Road and Lang’ata View Apartments along the Southern Bypass.

The motion alleged that Crystal Kenya Limited acquired Outspan Hotel from Aberdare Safari Hotels for KSh535 million in November 2023.  Crystal Kenya is linked to Gachagua’s sons, Kevin Gachagua and Keith Ikinu Gachagua. The company also obtained a KSh300 million loan in November 2023, secured against its assets.

Also Read: President Ruto’s Wealth Profile: Businesses, Hotels, Farms and Properties Linked to Him

Gachagua disputed the description of the transactions. In his response, he said he had transferred Crystal Kenya Limited to his sons and that purchase of Outspan Hotel was financed through a local bank. He also said he provided the company with a personal loan using funds the Asset Recovery Agency had returned to him.

On Treetops, Gachagua said the company did not purchase the property outright. He stated that the company acquired an assignment of a lease from Aberdare Safari Hotels and that the land itself was leased from the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Gachagua also rejected personal ownership of Olive Gardens Hotel, Queens Gate Serviced Apartments and Vipingo Beach Resort. He said the three assets were part of Nderitu Gachagua’s estate and that his role in some related companies arose because he was an executor of the estate. Vipingo Beach Resort Limited, according to the company’s information, is directed by Gachagua’s sons but owned by the estate.

The allegations further listed 40 acres in Kamburaini, Nyeri, with a helipad; 80 acres in Meru; a dairy farm in Nyandarua; and land in Embakasi, Nairobi. Wamunyoro Investments Limited was accused of using disputed land documents relating to properties identified as L.R. 209/12077 and L.R. 90923.

Companies and Entities Linked to the Gachagua Family

The motion identified 22 companies and organizations linked to Gachagua, his wife Dorcas Rigathi, his sons and other associates.

A separate investigation by Nation found that 19 of the entities were registered using addresses associated with the Deputy President’s official residence or office, and that some were registered using addresses associated with the Deputy President’s official residence or office.

Among the entities were Fortis Vis Group Limited, owned by Kevin and Keith; Biovet (K) Limited, associated with Gachagua and his wife; Heartland Supplies Limited; Karandi Farm Limited; Calvary Creed International Limited; Cosmere Venture Limited; Ridor Furniture Mart Limited; Wamunyoro Investments Limited; and Royal Crimson Ventures Limited. Other names included Morani Manufacturers, Mothers of the Land, Technical Supplies and Services, Delta Merchants, Pioneer Medical and Spirit Way.

He said Wamunyoro Investments was a property-holding company formed in 2001, while Karandi Farm operated a dairy business. He described Ridor Furniture Mart as a company managing rental property and said Morani Manufacturers had carried out only one animal-feed transaction worth KSh132,000 before becoming dormant.

Rigathi said several other companies had not traded for years, had never traded with government, or did not maintain bank accounts. These included Spirit Way, Fortis Vis Group, Pioneer Medical, Biovet, Delta Merchants, Heartland Supplies and Technical Supplies and Services. The Rigathi Gachagua Foundation and Dorcas Rigathi Foundation were described as non-profit organizations. Gachagua said his foundation had received KSh12 million, which was used to support disadvantaged people.

Grand Bypass Apartments Limited was described as a company created in 2024 to transfer 70 Lang’ata View Apartments to beneficiaries of Nderitu Gachagua’s estate. Gachagua said his directorship resulted from his position as an executor and did not mean that the apartments were his personal property.

Also Read: How Late Nderitu Gachagua Rose from Quantity Surveyor to Billionaire

List of Properties Linked to Gachagua and the Family

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