| Naushad N. Merali | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Residence | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenya |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Being one of the wealthiest residents in Kenya and operating numerous business ventures |
Naushad N. Merali, CBS is the founder of the Kenyan mobile service provider Kencell along with French media giant Vivendi.[1] He attended Highway Secondary School; a school exclusively for male students in the suburbs of Nairobi, Nigeria. As one of Kenya's leading industrialists, Merali has brought commercial development in Kenya for more than 30 years and is constantly expanding his businesses throughout East Africa.[2]
His wife is Zarin Merali, who is a director for the Kenyan Paraplegic Organisation.[3] She is also a interior design consultant.[3]
In 2004, he managed to purchase 60% ownership of the business from Vivendi for $230 million.[1] Merali would transfer ownership only an hour later to Celtel for a $20 million profit.[1] While owning 5% of Bharti Airtel's Kenyan wireless phone operations, Merali spends his time steering the affairs of the Sameer Group.[1] The Sameer Group is a conglomerate of 15 Kenyan companies that range from financial services to agriculture and even information technology.[1] Three of these companies appear on the Nairobi Stock Exchange and Merali is worth $210 million as of November 2, 2011.[1]
Merali also holds positions at the Kenya Export Promotion Council, the International Who's Who of Professionals, and the National Investment Council of Kenya.[4] The President of Kenya has appointed him to positions such as membership in the Kenya Export Promotion Council, membership and The National Poverty Eradication Commission of Kenya, and membership in The Presidental Committee on Employment.[4]
Merali is considered to be the largest force behind Kenya's economic development due to his unfailing sense of business and his dedication to his visions for Kenya.[4] He appeared at the 2011 World Economic Forum in Davos as one of the African delegates.[5] As of September 2011, Kenya Data Networks - one of his business ventures - is facing financial problems and the shareholders are ready to cause a shakedown in the entire management team.[6]
Under the Daniel arap Moi adminstration, Merali alledgely secured a contract to supply Daihatsu 4x4 vehicles to government parastatals in Japan.[7] This is considered to be a move of one of Africa's "liberators" start exploiting the taxpayers' resources and cause the economy to become sick along with the country's social structure and their refusal to contradict Zimbabwe's dictatorial leader in international politics.[7]