Tragic incident haunts tycoon’s battle to take over Rea Vipingo

Dilesh Somchand Bid, 58, during the interview in his Nairobi offfice [ PHOTO: Beverlyne Musili/Standard

In 1964, a year after Kenya’s independence, Somchand Devji Shah, won a Government tender to operate a large sisal plantation and factory in Embu on lease.

The estate, called Mecca Sisal Development, sat on 7,000 acres and was opened by President Jomo Kenyatta.