Being an ally of the most powerful man in the country can do wonders for a person’s life. Harban ‘Amrit’ Singh was one of the country’s billionaires during the era of former President Daniel Moi.
He greatly benefited from the KANU regime, having interests in hospitality, fishing, horticulture, construction, real estate, and aviation
Amrit passed away in 2016, leaving wealth to the tune of billions. His legacy lives on through his work, for example building all the Moi Girls High Schools in Kenya.
He also owns the grand Eka Hotel, located on Mombasa Road near the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, known for its excellent services and a prime location near JKIA and the Nairobi National Park.
Harban Singh made most of his wealth through winning tenders from the Moi government.
These include the construction of most schools associated with the Moi family; Moi Girls High Schools across Kenya, Kabarak schools and University, Sunshine Secondary and Moi Educational Centre (MEC).
He is also reported to be the brains behind the construction of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) silos. The billionaire also owns the 300-acre Aquilla flower farm, which sits along Lake Naivasha, where he practised the horticulture business.
On the shores of Lake Victoria, the father of 3 reportedly set up a shipping business and gave it to one of his sons to manage it alongside his friend, Sharad Patel, who produced the film, ‘The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin’.
Harban Singh also has interests in the tourism industry vested through the Oltukai Lodge located in the Amboseli National Park. Supposedly, his venture into tourism compelled him to purchase a hangar at the Wilson Airport.
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In the Nairobi CBD, between Utalii House and Kenindia Insurance Building is a parking lot that belonged to Harban Singh before he sold it to the Kenya Methodist University for an undisclosed amount.
Here is a list of other properties owned by the late billionaire:
1. Hospitality industry
Harban ‘Amrit’ Singh is the owner of the one-storey 4-star Eka Hotel along Mombasa Road. Allegedly, it sits on one of the many parcels of land he owns along the road.
In Mombasa, the Amrit is said to have had interests in the Castle Hotel along Moi Avenue, but he later sold his shares. He is also the owner of Oltukai Lodge in Amboseli National Park.
2. Lands along Waiyaki Way
Amrit, as he was fondly known by the Asian community in Kenya, previously owned several parcels of land and buildings along Waiyaki Way, including the three Safaricom Houses on the road.
Safaricom is a well-established telecommunications company that was founded in 1993. Today, it holds a prominent position in Kenya’s economy.
3. View Park towers
The tycoon is also said to have put up the glassy View Park towers in the city centre along Uhuru highway, next to Utalii House for Sh. 300 million.
Close associates to the late Amrit shared that he built it to put up his penthouse where he’d receive esteemed people for business transactions. He later sold the building to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for Sh. 900, making a cool 200% profit.
4. Rehema and Chelsea Park apartments
The true definition of a moneyed man, Amrit is the owner of the parcel of lands along Rhapta road in Westlands where Chelsea Park apartments are situated.
Around the same area, Amrit had offices named Rehema House apartments since they were a stone’s throw away from Rehema House, which he built for the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya.
5. Sky Park Plaza
Amrit also owned Sky Park Plaza, an office building located along Waiyaki Way. The building whose construction was facilitated by BAA architects has about 13,000 square metres of space-to-let.
Its construction was completed in 2011 and it has two levels of retails space, and ten levels of offices.
