Billionaire John Kibunga Kimani is among the top six richest investors at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
As one of the most prominent investors at the NSE, he holds huge stakes in some of Kenya’s biggest listed companies.
The most prominent companies he has invested in include Safaricom PLC, Nation Media Group, Kakuzi Plc, and Centum Investment.
Regulatory filings and market data show his portfolio is valued at more than Ksh2.8 billion ($22 million), placing him among the top six richest investors at the NSE.
Born into poverty, John Kibunga Kimani grew up with his family as squatters in Makuyu, Murang’a County.
Years later, he became one of the largest landowners at the same place through his stake in agricultural giant Kakuzi Plc.
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The Rise of John Kibunga Kimani to a Billionaire
Kimani’s climb from poverty to billionaire status was not built on political connections or luck, but on patience, strategy, and the ability to spot value where others overlooked it.
By 2017, his portfolio of listed equities was valued at Ksh2.8 billion, after he peaked at Ksh4 billion in 2015.
Today, his investments remain valued at more than $22 million, positioning him as one of the top six richest investors on the NSE.
He rarely sells, and when he does, it is only to double down on a stock he believes in. In 2019, he sold three million shares of Total Kenya worth Ksh80 million and redirected the money into Kakuzi.
Kimani’s Key Investments
1. Kakuzi Plc
Kimani is the largest individual shareholder at Kakuzi Plc, an agricultural company with more than 39,000 acres under tea, avocados, macadamia, forestry, and livestock.
He holds a 34.54 percent stake, equivalent to 6.7 million shares.
Kakuzi produces avocados, macadamia nuts, tea, forestry products, and beef.
2. Centum Investment
In 2022, Kimani increased his shareholding in Centum to 4.7 percent after purchasing shares worth Ksh219 million.
This move positioned him as the company’s third-largest individual shareholder.
Centum’s portfolio includes Two Rivers Mall, Longhorn Publishers, Nabo Capital, and real estate projects in Nairobi.
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3. Safaricom Plc
He owns 27.7 million shares in Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecommunications provider.
He increased his investment in Safaricom during the second half of 2023, snatching up 8.64 million additional shares, which brought his total ownership to 27.7 million units.
4. Nation Media Group (NMG)
Kimani holds a 1.73 percent stake in Nation Media Group, East Africa’s largest independent media house.
His dividends from NMG rose in 2021 after the group reported improved earnings and resumed dividend payments.
5. East African Breweries Limited (EABL)
He is also listed among shareholders in EABL, the East African region’s largest brewer.
Other Investments
In previous years, Kimani held significant shares in Total Kenya, but he sold his stake in 2019 to channel more funds into Kakuzi.
He also has ties to Rural Development Services, a company with extensive land holdings in Murang’a County.
Living a Private Life
Despite his wealth, little is known about Kimani outside his financial dealings.
He rarely appears in public, and when he does, he is almost never photographed.
To many Kenyans who care about investments, he is a name in the business pages rather than a figure in society pages.
However, he is deeply invested in rural development.
Kimani has spearheaded agricultural programs, irrigation schemes, and resource planning projects in the Tana and Athi River basins.
He often partners with international organizations such as the World Bank, JICA, DANIDA, and GTZ.
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