Jaswant Singh Rai: Billionaire Whose Company Produces Half Of Kenya's Sugar
Rai was born in India and emigrated to Kenya in the 1970s
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Billionaire Jaswant Singh Rai was only known in business circles until his abduction in broad daylight on Friday, August 25 which has seen him dominate headlines for the past weekend.
In CCTV footage that surfaced on Friday, Rai was accosted by gun-toting men in Nairobi who forced him out of his car in the middle of traffic in Kilimani, Nairobi and bundled him into a pickup that blocked his path after overlapping vehicles.
His family shared the video of the abduction with law enforcement officers yet to give details of the incident, including the circumstances that led to the abduction and those that culminated in his release 24 hours later.
His lawyer Kioko Kilukumi confirmed that the billionaire was released on Sunday evening, August 27, but did not provide details on who detained him.
A photo collage of Jaswant Singh Rai (right) and his alleged abduction at Kilimani captured on CCTV footage. /BONIFACE MWANGI
The saga even roped in President William Ruto who earlier linked Rai to a group of cartels he accused of frustrating the government's plans to reform the sugar industry and vowed to confront them head-on.
“Msikuwe na wasiwasi niko hapo chonjo kabisa. Nitahakikisha hii kitu inakaa chonjo. Na wakora wote wako katikati. Msikuwe na wasiwasi ati kuna mtu atakuja kutuongelesha kingereza. Sijui mhindi fulani. Sijui nani ni nani. Sijui mwingine ananiambia Rai. Rai Nani? Hapana hiyo haiwezekani.”
Loosely translated to: "Do not be worried, I'm on high alert. I'll make sure everything works properly. The crooks are in the middle of it."
"Do not be worried that someone is coming to talk to us in English. I don't know which Indian, I don't know who...someone was telling me about Rai, Rai who? No, that cannot happen," an agitated Ruto cautioned.
The President's remarks at a church service in Bungoma caused jitters across the country, with some Kenyans pointing to the State being possibly involved in the abduction while raising questions regarding the reasons for his arrests.
But who exactly is Jaswant Singh Rai?
Rai was born in India and emigrated to Kenya in the 1970s where he kickstarted his career as a businessman by venturing into the fruits and vegetable industries. He later entered the sugar sector, founding the West Kenya Sugar Company in 1989, now among Kenya's biggest sugar producers.
The reclusive Kenyan billionaire businessman and chairman of the Rai Group- a conglomerate with interests in the sugar, real estate, and hospitality industries- is thought to control at least 43 per cent of Kenya's sugar business, with data from the Sugar Directorate indicating that he produces at least half of the sugar consumed in Kenya.
Rai is also the chairman of West Kenya Sugar/Kabras Millers in Malava, Kakamega, Sukari Industries of Ndhiwa in Homabay, Olepito Sugar at Tangakona in Busia and Naitiri Sugar in Bungoma county. He is also the founder of the Raiplywood Group, Kenya's leading producer of plywood and other wood products.
In 2022, the company opened Naitiri Sugar Company, their fourth sugar mill, in Bungoma. The Ksh6.3 billion ($44 million) facility, which has a daily production capacity of 6,000 tonnes of sugar, began operations in May.
According to Sugar Directorate Data from 2020, Rai Group held 45 per cent of the nation's total sugar sales. Sukari Industries came in at 11 per cent, West Kenya at 29 per cent, and Olepito at two per cent.
The billionaire is renowned for his stylish suits, which are made by renowned British stylist and designer Ozwald Boateng, who is also the first and youngest black tailor to have a shop on London's prestigious Savile Row, where the world's royalty go for their clothing.
Rai Brothers
Rai and Sarbi Singh Rai, who runs the Sarrai Group, which is domiciled in Uganda, are brothers, but the latter has interests in Kenya.
Recently, he was in the spotlight for battling for control of Mumias Sugar with his brother Sarbi.
