Billionaire Chris Kirubi has died aged 81. Quoted by Forbes as “a complex man”, who’s “that rare blend of Jeffrey Sachs, Richard Branson and American music Star DJ Khaleed”, Kirubi ate life from a big spoon made of silver he mined himself.
Before his passing Kirubi was a significant shareholder and long-serving director of Centum Investment Company PLC and Chairman of the company’s Board Finance and Investment Committee.
Centum is listed at both the Nairobi and Uganda Stock Exchange.
An alumnus of Friends School Kamusinga in Western Kenya, Kirubi was Chairman of Haco Industries, and is recognised as one of Kenya’s first indigenous manufacturers having entered the manufacturing sector in the 1970s.
The late billionaire also served as Chairman of Coca-Cola Nairobi Bottlers, DHL Worldwide Express, Capital Media Group, International House Limited, and Smart Applications International among others.
He was also Deputy Chairman of Bayer East Africa Limited.
Kirubi who served as CEO of Capital Media, was always quiet about his past. “There is not much history. I was born a poor boy – an ordinary peasant, I would say.
“My parents passed on when I was young. But I was lucky to have people who supported my education,” he told Capital FM in an interview.
However, in one of his tips to his followers on twitter, Kirubi share bits of wisdom that mirrored his drive in life.
“One of the ways I believe you can find meaning of your life is by creating a strategy that you can use through your journey.”
“You need to keep the purpose of your life, front and center as you decide how to spend your time, talents and energy. Remember that without a purpose, life can be hollow,” Kirubi said.
In 2017, Kirubi told a magazine that he is Kenya’s most expensively dressed man. The late billionaire revealed that he is dressed by Italian fashion house Brioni who also dress former USA Presidents Donald Trump and George Bush.
The media owner who was once a deejay at Capital FM bragged of a car collection estimated to be worth over Ksh90 million and whose number plates were customized with his initials CK.
He was the first Kenyan to import Mercedes Maybach which set him back by around Ksh30 million.
He also owns a Bespoke Bentley customised to his taste and which he purchases a year after getting himself the Mercedes Maybach. The Bentley set Kirubi back at a cost of Ksh30 million.
Kirubi also owned a Ferari, Mercedes Benz S class and a Range Rover.
