Years after the passing of Kenyan industrialist Naushad Merali on July 3, 2021, at age 70, his family is expanding into pharmaceutical glass manufacturing under the leadership of his widow, Zarin Merali.

The family owns a 50 percent stake in Milly Glass Works Limited, whose affiliate, MILLY SEZ Limited, plans to build a KSh330.36 million ($2.6 million) pharmaceutical glass bottle plant at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone in Mombasa County.

Merali family deepens Kenya manufacturing interests

The factory will be built on six hectares and is expected to produce about 290,000 tonnes of Type III amber-colored glass bottles annually for pharmaceutical products such as vaccines and syrups, according to Kenya’s Business Registration Service.

The project aims to serve medical packaging demand in East and Central Africa, where manufacturers rely heavily on imports. Its location near the Port of Mombasa and Standard Gauge Railway could also ease the movement of raw materials and finished products.

The investment adds to the Merali family’s manufacturing interests after years of changes to its portfolio, including reduced exposure to tires and telecommunications as high costs and import competition pressured local manufacturers.

Zarin Merali leads Merali family business

Zarin Merali remains at the center of the family’s business interests following her husband’s death in 2019. The Merali family holds stakes in Sameer Africa, Sasini and NCBA Group and owns Legend Investments, with interests spanning agriculture, finance and real estate.

Her late husband, Naushad Merali, was one of Kenya’s best-known businessmen, having built a diversified group of companies over several decades. His fortune was once estimated at $370 million. Among the family’s longstanding holdings is Sameer Africa, the Nairobi-based tire manufacturer, which reported higher earnings for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, as it continued its recovery from the previous year.

Sameer Africa earnings improve as costs fall

Sameer Africa’s profit for the year increased 5.53 percent to KSh274.28 million ($2.12 million), from KSh259.90 million ($2.01 million) a year earlier. The increase followed a stronger improvement in operating profit, which rose 48 percent to KSh292.64 million ($2.27 million), compared with KSh198.08 million ($1.53 million) in 2024.

Total comprehensive income also edged higher to KSh274.49 million ($2.12 million). The results point to continued improvement in the company’s underlying operations, supported by higher revenue and tighter control of costs.

The glass project gives the Merali family another foothold in manufacturing at a time when Kenya is seeking to expand local production and reduce dependence on imported goods. For the family, it also marks a return to an industry that has played an important role in its business interests for decades.