Nginyo Kariuki: The battle for his Sh4 billion empire

A section of Nginyo Kariuki's home in Tigoni. The late Nginyo (inset). [Photo: Edward Kiplimo]

The succession battle for the late billionaire Nginyo Kariuki’s Sh4 billion estate is unfolding, pitting his daughter Brenda Nyambura Kiragu’s against the rest of the family. For a man decorated during his burial as “a great patriot, prolific politician, synonymous with success and disciplined” and whom President Uhuru Kenyatta said was “very, very close to me”, it was unimaginable his legacy would end up the beaten path of the other business moguls - court battles.

For the better part of his last decade, Nginyo spent a quiet life at the top floor office of his Nginyo Towers on Koinange Street, watching over an empire he had toiled for and discussing politics. In his life, he had reached the pinnacle of financial success, with an impressive catalogue of investments. At the political level, he helped make Uhuru Kenyatta Kenya’s fourth president through The National Alliance (TNA) party, which he founded.