Kenyan Billionaires Missing in Latest Forbes List

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) looks at the new currency notes as CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge looks on; June 1, 2019
President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) looks at the new currency notes as CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge looks on; June 1, 2019
PSCU

Kenya’s super-rich club consisting of wealthy politicians and businessmen was eclipsed in the latest list of Africa’s top richest individuals. 

Kenya’s billionaires were no match for the list led by Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote who has maintained the position for the last 10 years.

While the country’s ultra-high net-worth-individuals (UHNWI) shed their wealth due to the impact of Covid-19, Forbes’ top billionaires increased their net worth by 12%.

Aliko Dangote, chairman and CEO of the Dangote Group, photographed at his office in Lagos, Nigeria in July 2018
Aliko Dangote, chairman and CEO of the Dangote Group, photographed at his office in Lagos, Nigeria in July 2018
File

This was attributed to Nigeria’s surging stock market which triggered an automatic 30-minute trading halt for the first time since 2016.

Despite Kenya missing out, East Africa was represented by Tanzania’s Mohammed Dewji, CEO of MeTL which is involved in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages and edible oils in eastern, southern and central Africa. 

According to Forbes, the former MP is Tanzania’s only billionaire, and who in 2016 promised to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic cause. 

The 2021 list had no women, as Isabel dos Santos of Angola and Folorunsho Alakija of Nigeria dropped off. 

Isabel who was the richest woman in Africa had her assets frozen by the court to facilitate a probe on her wealth. She is the daughter of Angola’s longtime former president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Worthy to note is that three Egyptian brothers appeared on the list in number 11, 14 and 18. 

Mohamed Mansour oversees family conglomerate Mansour Group, which was founded by his father Loutfy. 

His brothers Yasseen and Youssef share ownership in the family group while his son heads the private equity arm Man Capital.

Mansour Group has exclusive distribution rights for Caterpillar equipment in Egypt and seven other African countries including Kenya. 

A signpost showing the Billionaire's resort in Malindi
A signpost showing the Billionaire's resort in Malindi
Photo
Billionaire's Resort and Retreat

Forbes Africa Richest List 

Aliko Dangote (Ksh 1.3 trillion)

Naseef Sawiris (Ksh 932 billion)

Nicky Oppenheimer (Ksh 877 billion)

Johann Rupert (Ksh 789 billion)

Mike Adenuga (Ksh 690 billion)

Abdulsamad Rabiu (Ksh 603 billion)

Issad Rebrab (Ksh 526 billion)

Naguib Sawiris (Ksh 350 billion)

Patrice Motsepe (Ksh 328 billion)

Koos Bekker (Ksh 307 billion)

Mohamed Mansour (Ksh 274 billion)

Aziz Akhannouch (Ksh 219 billion)

Mohammed Dewji (Ksh 175 billion)

Youssef Mansour (Ksh 164 billion)

Othman Benjelloun (Ksh 142 billion)

Michiel Le Roux (Ksh 131 billion)

Strive Masiyiwa (Ksh 131 billion)

Yaseen Mansour (Ksh 120 billion)

 

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