The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Inside the life of Kenyan millionaire who lived in a slum until his death yesterday

It's unknown whether he was a millionaire or billionaire

Mourners transporting the body of Nakuru businessman Said Abdallah Azubedi

The death of a Nakuru real estate tycoon Said Abdalla Azubedi on Monday unveiled the humble nature of the businessman who lived in the slum like a poor person.

Azubedi had amassed a lot of wealth in terms of real estates and businesses set up within the town.

For a wealthy man who was claimed to have owned half of Nakuru’s Central business district, he never had bodyguards or state of the art vehicles to accompany his status, his hair was always unkept and was always in a shirt and flops.

ADVERTISEMENT

The business man who died at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi two days ago, left a legacy not only with his achievements but also the lifestyle he adopted.

Property owned by Azubedi

The tycoon had invested into the real estate sector where he owned a dozen maisonettes in Mlimani Estate which is an area occupied by the town’s elite, tens of rental houses in Freehold, Langa Langa, Gikomba complex, which accommodates numerous business stalls and several commercial buildings in Nakuru’s CBD.

In addition, the deceased in his early years, had a soft drink and cigarette distribution center which was set up at his Bondeni home and supplied the goods to companies in places such as Baringo, Kericho, Nyandarua and Nakuru itself before he lost control of the distributorship in the early 2000s.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ali Azubedi, who is the younger brother to the business mogul, noted that his brother was a generous and down to earth man.

“He was the first born in the family. When my parents arrived here, he was only three years old.

He worked his way up and managed to set up a whole business that thrived and expanded into a soft drink and cigarette distribution before he moved to real estate after the business was discontinued,” remarked Ali.

Azubedi had a café next to the Shabab matatu stage where he spent his time at the place as a cashier.

Azubedi's poor like lifestyle

ADVERTISEMENT

Often accompanied by handlers, Azubedi could easily be mistaken for an elderly employee at the small but busy restaurant.

The 79-year-old would move about the town using his 1971 Peugeot 504 that looked like it would stop working from any moment due to its old age.

Despite all the wealth he had, the late Azubedi opted to live at the Bondeni slum where quarter of the houses in the slum were owned by him.

Tussle between Azubedi and the late Nakuru town MP Mirugi Kariuki

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2003, the businessman was involved in a squabble with the late Nakuru town MP Mirugi Kariuki over a piece of land located next to the Nakuru wholesale market, that served as a trading area for small scale traders.

The conflict was however put to rest by the late Assistant Minister for Internal Security Orwa Ojode who stated that Azubedi was the rightful owner.

“The current owner of plot No LR Nakuru Municipality Block 10/97 is Mr Said Abdalla Azubedi,” remarked Ojode.

Azubedi who was buried at the Nakuru Muslim Cemetery on Tuesday, is survived by seven children and a widow identified as Washuka Samira, who is the second wife, as the first wife had passed on at an unknown time.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Gov't pathologist reveals how taxi driver Victoria Mumbua was killed

Gov't pathologist reveals how taxi driver Victoria Mumbua was killed

ODM taps youth league president to replace John Mbadi as nominated MP

ODM taps youth league president to replace John Mbadi as nominated MP

MPs who signed Gachagua's impeachment motion but voted NO after change of heart

MPs who signed Gachagua's impeachment motion but voted NO after change of heart

One prayed for on the altar can only be removed from the altar - Dorcas Rigathi

One prayed for on the altar can only be removed from the altar - Dorcas Rigathi

Gov't issues emergency hotline to help evacuate Kenyans in Lebanon amid tensions

Gov't issues emergency hotline to help evacuate Kenyans in Lebanon amid tensions

Ruto appoints new Head of Presidential Communication Service

Ruto appoints new Head of Presidential Communication Service

Can co-parents add a child to SHA? What T&Cs provide

Can co-parents add a child to SHA? What T&Cs provide

Morara Kebaso cites 2 reasons he is taking brief hiatus from active politics

Morara Kebaso cites 2 reasons he is taking brief hiatus from active politics

Senate sets dates for DP Gachagua’s impeachment showdown

Senate sets dates for DP Gachagua’s impeachment showdown

ADVERTISEMENT