John Kinuthia: The Billionaire Owner Of Lavington Mall Who Lived With Two Wives In One House
Billionaire John Kinuthia Makumi made loads of money but never forgot the value of family. The serial entrepreneur never went far with his education but ensured his children had the very best.
At the age of 16, he quit school and opted to follow his passion in the business world.
His first venture was selling chicken where he would buy them in the interior villages of Kiambu County at a relatively lower price then sell them in Kabete market at a profit.
With hard work, discipline and determination, Mr. Makumi saved his little profits and began investing in land and real estate.
By the time of his death on 5th December 2019, Makumi had invested and accumulated vast wealth amounting to billions of shillings.
The tycoon left an indelible footprint in the rich suburbs of Lavington in the form of Lavington Mall, the largest mall in the area.
His other properties include a 200-acre piece of land in Loitoktok, Kajiado County, Zadar building in Wangige, Kiambu County, a building that hosts Fountain Church near Fig tree, Ngara Nairobi and the upcoming Wangige mall. He owned a multi-million palatial mansion in Rioki, Kiambu County. He also had other businesses and properties in different countries in the East African Community.
By the time he succumbed to cardiac arrest while aged 89, the billionaire had been living peacefully with his two wives Agnes Waringa and Irene Nyakio under one roof.
Despite dropping out of school at an early age, Makumi gave his children the best education, sending them to the best universities abroad. One of his daughters, Wanjiku Kinuthia, unsuccessfully vied for the Kabete constituency parliamentary seat during the 2017 general elections.
Despite being wealthy, Makumi remained a humble and down to earth person. He always preferred to drive himself rather than flying while inspecting his vast business empire.
