Jomo Kenyatta’s First Business Deal With Raila Odinga at His Gatundu Farm

Kenya’s first President, Jomo Kenyatta, once hired Raila Odinga to install a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) tank at his farm in Gatundu, in a business deal that helped shape the former Prime Minister’s entrepreneurial journey.

In the early 1970s, Raila had partnered with German engineer Franz Schineis to establish a company specialising in the repair and maintenance of boilers and pressure vessels.

At the time, Raila was also working at the University of Nairobi and had ventured into business to supplement his salary.

The company attracted Kenyatta’s attention, leading to a contract to install an LPG tank at his Gatundu farm.

During the installation work, Raila discovered that the LPG tanks being used were imported rather than manufactured locally. He identified an opportunity to produce them in Kenya.

This observation eventually contributed to the establishment of Spectre International, a company that manufactures gas cylinders locally.

The business relationship was particularly interesting given the political differences between Jomo Kenyatta and Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who had experienced detention under Kenyatta’s government.

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/40756-details-railas-first-contract-awarded-jomo-kenyatta?page=31

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