Sameer Group Charirman, Naushad Merali dies at 70

Sameer Group Chairman, Naushad Merali dies at 70

Dorothy Michieka

July 3, 2021 12:04 PM

Naushad died while undergoing treatment at the Nairobi Hospital

Sameer Group Charirman, Naushad Noorali Merali dies at 70

Billionaire businessman and industrialist, Naushad Merali has died this Saturday morning in Nairobi at the age of 70.

A statement by the secretariat of the association of Shia muslims, Shia Ithna Ashri Jamaat, said the burial will be held on Saturday, July 3.

"It is the family’s request that Covid protocols be adhered to firmly hence, only immediate members of the family and those assisting with the burial proceedings to attend. The family thanks you for honouring this request," it read.

In 2015, the business man was ranked as the 48th richest man in Africa by Forbes in 2015, with his wealth at the time of the ranking being estimated to be about $370 million.

Merali was the founder of Kencell (now Airtel) and later retired as chairman in 2013.

He was also the chairman of the Sameer Group, named after his son.

Merali also bought the Firestone US stake in Firestone East Africa in 1985 with bank loans, rebranded the well-known tyre brand into Yana Tyres and made a fortune when the company was floated on the Nairobi Stock (now Securities) Exchange.

Condolence Messages

ODM Party

Musalia Mudavadi

Najib Balala

Philip Etale, ODM Director of Communications

Dorothy Michieka