Kenyan businessman and investor John Kimani raised his stake in Centum Investment Company to 11.51 percent during the financial year ended March 2026, buying 7.19 million shares worth KSh133 million ($1.02 million), according to the company’s latest annual report.

Kimani’s holding increased from 69.4 million shares, or 10.43 percent, at the end of March 2025 to 76.59 million shares a year later. The latest purchase extends a series of acquisitions that have steadily increased his ownership of the Nairobi-listed investment company.

The Kenyan tycoon held 8.2 million Centum shares, equivalent to a 1.24 percent stake, in March 2021. He has increased his holding in nearly every reporting period since then. By August 2022, he owned 4.7 percent after spending KSh219 million.

In February 2024, Kimani bought another 10.8 million shares for KSh90.7 million, taking his stake to 6.84 percent. He then acquired 18.84 million shares for KSh233.6 million over the following nine months, reaching 9.7 percent by December 2024.

His holding rose above 10 percent in March 2025 before reaching 11.51 percent a year later. In five years, Kimani has increased his Centum stake from 1.24 percent to 11.51 percent, giving him a substantially larger position in the company than he held in 2021.

Kirubi estate, KDC dominate Centum ownership

The timing of his initial purchases is also notable. Chris Kirubi, who chaired Centum and was its dominant shareholder, died in June 2021. Kimani held 1.24 percent of Centum three months before Kirubi’s death.

Kirubi’s estate has held 30.94 percent, or 205.91 million Centum shares, throughout the period, with the holding passing to his children, Mary-Ann Musangi and Robert Kirubi. Centum’s latest annual report says the estate’s stake declined during the year ended March 2026 but does not state whether shares were sold or whether the change resulted from another adjustment.

Centum has also been buying back its own shares. The second phase of the company’s share buyback opened Oct. 1, 2024, and ran through March 31, 2026, at a maximum price of KSh9.51 a share.

For large shareholders in a relatively thinly traded market, a company buyback can provide an avenue to sell a sizeable block of shares without putting the same pressure on the market price that a large open-market transaction could create. Kenya Development Corporation, the state-owned investment company, holds 22.97 percent of Centum.

Kimani’s investments span Kakuzi, Safaricom, NMG

Kimani’s investments extend beyond Centum. He holds a 33.53 percent equity stake in another company, comprising 6,570,947 shares, making him its largest individual shareholder. He also owns 3.86 percent of Nation Media Group and holds 27.7 million shares in Safaricom, one of East Africa’s largest telecommunications companies.

His portfolio has also generated substantial dividend income. Earlier this year, Kimani received KSh105.1 million ($810,000) from his stake in Kakuzi, reinforcing the income generated by his investment in the agricultural company. The payment formed part of Kakuzi’s final dividend of KSh16 ($0.12) per share, totaling KSh313.6 million ($2.42 million), which was paid June 15.

Kakuzi returned to profit in 2025, helped by stronger avocado exports, lower operating costs and continued income from forestry, livestock and blueberries. The improved results gave the company room to increase its dividend and expressed confidence in the strength of its operations.