The story of the Kenyatta family in Kenya is a sprawling saga of immense wealth accumulation, strategic business ventures, and enduring political influence. It is a narrative of how one family, from being relatively broke at independence, rose to become the country’s richest and single largest private land owner.
This land empire is staggering: The Kenyatta family controls an estimated 500,000 acres of land in Kenya—an area larger than the total land size of London (approx. 386,000 acres) or Los Angeles (approx. 321,000 acres). This is the incredible story of how the Kenyatta dynasty captured Kenya.
Phase 1: Jomo Kenyatta’s Presidency and the Foundation of Wealth (1963-1978)
Kenya gained independence in December 1963. Jomo Kenyatta, the revered freedom fighter, became the country’s first Prime Minister and then President, promising to return land to dispossessed Africans. However, the mechanism adopted—the Million Acre Settlement Scheme based on the “willing buyer, willing seller” principle—quickly facilitated the family’s ascent.
Land Acquisition and Elite Dominance
The scheme was financed by the British government to sell land from departing colonials to African farmers. In practice, however, those with political connections took advantage. President Kenyatta and his close allies reportedly used this opportunity to acquire extensive lands through loans and state-facilitated purchases, particularly in his home district of Kiambu and the fertile Rift Valley. The settlement funds meant to assist landless citizens were often channeled to benefit the politically connected elite.
Kenyatta quickly established a one-party state dominated by his Kikuyu ethnic group, banning all political activities. His inner circle, sometimes dubbed the “Kiambu Mafia,” quickly dominated both politics and commerce, occupying key government posts. This contributed to a perception that British elite dominance had simply been replaced by a Kikuyu elite dominance. Close relatives and trusted lieutenants used their influence to amass wealth alongside the President.
The Land Empire Solidified
Land was the most coveted asset. Soon, the family emerged as the country’s largest land owner.
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Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s Holdings: By 1978, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, Jomo’s fourth wife, personally owned around 115,000 hectares (approximately 284,000 acres) across Kenya, a figure cited in declassified US intelligence reports. Her holdings included a 13,000-hectare ranch in Kiambu, two large tea plantations (at Matu and Mango), and three estates near the Tanzania border.
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The Final Tally: Much of this land was acquired through the willing buyer programs or as compensation deals with departing colonials, often financed by government settlement funds. By the end of Jomo Kenyatta’s rule, the extended family had acquired an estimated 500,000 acres of land, making them the single largest private land owner.
Business and Corruption
Kenyatta adopted a capitalist economy policy, and under the banner of Africanization, Kenyan-owned enterprises were promoted, benefiting well-connected individuals. The family and allies acquired stakes in banking, insurance, farming, and mining.
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Controversial Trade: The Kenyattas ventured into manufacturing and trade, including the lucrative and controversial ivory and charcoal trade. A 1975 CIA memo alleged that Mama Ngina and Margaret Kenyatta were probably the country’s two largest charcoal and ivory traders, allegedly granted special licenses to profit from poached elephant tusks and harvested timber despite official bans.
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Patronage and Impunity: Kenyatta’s presidency was marked by patronage politics, rewarding loyalists with public land leases, import licenses, and government contracts. Though high-level corruption scandals occasionally surfaced, dissent was silenced, ensuring no formal inquiries ever held the first family accountable during his tenure.
Phase 2: The Moi Era and Quiet Business Expansion (1978-2002)
Following Jomo Kenyatta’s death in 1978, President Daniel arap Moi publicly assured the nation there would be no vendetta. The new president maintained a cordial relationship, and the family’s assets were protected. Free of official duties, the Kenyatta family devoted the 1980s and 1990s to expanding their business empire.
The Rise of Banking and Dairy Giants
Mama Ngina Kenyatta emerged as one of the wealthiest individuals, investing quietly or through proxies.
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Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA): In the early 1980s, the Kenyatta family, through their holding company ENK Investment Limited, acquired a sizable stake in the CBA. By the 2000s, they controlled about 24.9% of CBA shares, making them the single largest shareholder. Control of the bank provided immense financial leverage.
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Brookside Dairy Limited: In 1993, Muhoho Kenyatta, Uhuru’s younger brother, founded Brookside. Utilizing family capital and political connections, Brookside grew rapidly, capitalizing on the decline of state-controlled dairies. It aggressively acquired competitors and built a dominant position in the milk market.
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Hospitality and Real Estate: Their hospitality portfolio expanded and was consolidated under the Heritage Hotels Group, a luxury chain including iconic resorts like Voyager Beach Resort. They also owned large plots in Nairobi that appreciated greatly in value, setting the stage for projects like the massive Northlands City plan.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s Political Debut
In the late 1990s, Moi began planning his succession and surprisingly looked to Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Jomo’s son, as a potential heir.
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Early Setback: Uhuru, educated at elite schools and involved in family businesses, lost his first parliamentary race in 1997.
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Moi’s Grooming: Moi swiftly appointed Uhuru to parliament in 2001 and then to the cabinet. By 2002, Moi named the relatively inexperienced Uhuru as KANU’s presidential candidate, leveraging the Kenyatta legacy.
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The 2002 Election: Uhuru lost decisively to opposition leader Mwai Kibaki. However, the campaign established him as a national politician and the new face of the dynasty.
Phase 3: Political Resurgence and Exponential Growth (2003-2013)
Despite the 2002 defeat, the Kenyatta business empire remained intact under President Kibaki, who cultivated friendly relations with the family. The new government did not pursue any punitive actions on past wealth, and Uhuru was soon appointed the Leader of the Opposition.
Business Empire Diversifies and Dominates
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Brookside’s Regional Power: Brookside Dairy expanded aggressively, acquiring rivals and building dominance, controlling around 45% of Kenya’s formal milk market by 2009. The company also expanded regionally, entering Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, becoming East Africa’s largest dairy.
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The CBA and M-Shwari Boom: The family’s CBA bank thrived. In 2011, CBA partnered with Safaricom to launch M-Shwari, a pioneering mobile banking and micro-credit service. This product gave CBA access to millions of customers and deposits via mobile phones, dramatically boosting the bank’s profits, making it a top 10 bank in Kenya by 2012.
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Media Acquisition: The Kenyattas acquired the struggling Media Max Network Limited in the late 2000s, gaining ownership of K24 television, the People Daily newspaper, and several radio stations, allowing the family to control their own narratives.
Uhuru’s Return to Government
Uhuru threw his support behind President Kibaki’s re-election in 2007. Following the disputed election and the formation of a coalition government, Kibaki rewarded Uhuru by appointing him Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (2009-2012).
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Financial Influence: As Finance Minister, Uhuru oversaw budgets that channelled funds into infrastructure, indirectly raising the value of his family’s real estate holdings. He announced infrastructure projects, such as bypasses around Nairobi, that would later enhance connectivity to family-owned lands in Ruiru.
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Land Reform Stalled: While the Dongu’l Commission investigated past illegal land allocations, its report was stalled in implementation because it implicated powerful families, including the Kenyattas. The family’s historic acquisitions were not revisited.
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Growing Scrutiny: In 2011, Forbes estimated Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal net worth at around $500 million. Though he maintained his assets were legitimately acquired, the shadow of past looting and land grabbing lingered, becoming a campaign issue for the opposition.
Phase 4: Uhuru Kenyatta’s Presidency (2013-2022) and the Pandora Papers
In 2013, Uhuru Kenyatta won the presidency, marking the family’s return to direct political power. Though he officially distanced himself from business, the overlap between state policy and the family’s economic interest often became a point of contention.
Consolidation and Synergy
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Banking Merger: In 2019, CBA (25% Kenyatta-owned) merged with NIC Bank to form the NCBA Group, becoming one of Kenya’s largest banks. The Kenyatta family retained a significant 13.2% stake. NCBA thrived, notably running the M-Shwari product and the government-backed Stawi small business loan program. The family earned 625 million Kenyan shillings in dividends from NCBA alone in 2021.
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Foreign Investment in Dairy: Brookside sold a 40% stake to the French yogurt giant Danone in 2014, bringing in foreign capital and expertise, and reinforcing Brookside’s status as a regional champion.
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Northlands City Infrastructure: The family moved forward with the ambitious Northlands City development on their 11,000+ acre estate. During Uhuru’s term, the government invested heavily in road infrastructure near this land, notably expanding the Eastern Bypass and building a major interchange, which critics pointed out vastly increased the Northland’s land value. The project is owned by family vehicles including Sukari Industries Development Co. Limited.
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Favourable Policies: Government policies, such as maintaining high tariffs on imported milk powder, appeared to favor local processors like Brookside.
Corruption Allegations and the Pandora Papers
Despite Uhuru’s anti-corruption stance, allegations persisted.
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Mafia House Scandal: The 2016 Ministry of Health Scandal implicated Sundales International Limited, a company co-owned by Uhuru’s sister and cousin, which received lucrative government tenders shortly after he took office, demonstrating a clear conflict of interest.
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The Pandora Papers: In October 2021, the global investigation revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family had shielded wealth from public scrutiny for decades through foundations and companies in tax havens like Panama and the British Virgin Islands. The family owned at least seven offshore entities with assets worth over $30 million. These interests were never publicly disclosed, and their establishment coincided with Uhuru’s entry into politics. Though holding offshore companies is not illegal per se, the lack of transparency and the timing reinforced the view that the family was actively avoiding public scrutiny.
The Alliance of Dynasties
Uhuru’s second term was politically marked by the “Handshake” with opposition leader Raila Odinga. This unexpected alliance of the Kenyatta and Odinga families was dubbed an “alliance of dynasties” by critics, effectively sidelining Deputy President William Ruto, who fashioned himself as the spokesperson for “hustlers.”
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2022 Loss: Constitutionally term limited, Uhuru backed Raila Odinga as his preferred successor, but William Ruto won the presidency, dealing a blow to Uhuru’s political influence.
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Post-Presidency Tensions: In early 2023, protest tensions led to the invasion of the Kenyatta’s Northlands estate, with intruders stealing livestock and vandalizing property, allegedly orchestrated as political retaliation.
Conclusion: The Enduring Empire
As of 2025, the Kenyatta family remains one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Kenya, albeit without formal political power.
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Empire Intact: The business empire is largely intact. NCBA bank continues to post billions in annual profits, Brookside Dairy remains dominant, and Heritage Hotels and Media Max are operational. The family’s land holdings are vast, still cited as over 500,000 acres nationwide, with Uhuru Kenyatta recently acquiring a new 1,000-acre ranch in Trans Mara, Narok.
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Impunity: While ordinary Kenyans continue to lament the unjust wealth acquisition by the family, the Kenyattas have never been convicted or legally penalized for corruption or economic crimes. No court has nullified their land titles, and no commission has seized their assets, ensuring their vast empire remains securely in place.