Kenya has seen the growth of many of its industries, thanks to Ketan Somaia, a Kenyan-born businessman who currently lives in London. The entrepreneur has made headway in areas that range from hotel ownership to car distribution to sugar manufacturing. But just how did this versatile producer develop his many successful and promising businesses?
The Dolphin Group
Ketan Somaia is perhaps best known for his conglomeration of all of his companies under the Dolphin Group. While the group has its home base in Dubai and has offices on four different continents, Somaia established the group and helps run it from London, England. The Dolphin Group is the best blend of all of Ketan Somaia’s diverse industries including hotels, auto distribution and development, and finance.
How Somaia Got His Start
In 1989, Ketan Somaia founded Marshalls Ltd., an automobile distributor in Africa known for its allocation of cars like Honda and Tata to the African customer. That year, he also created the Miyani Sugar Company, which became a positive point on the Kenyan sugar producer industry. Marshalls Ltd. And Miyani Sugar Company where followed by an International Casino group that managed casinos in Mombasa and Nairobi, a Dolphin Leisure Club for relaxation and sports, and a hotel chain.
Hotel Opportunities
The Block Hotels group was created in 1992, just 3 years after Somaia’s first dabbling in business. Ketan Somaia was chairman of the hotels group up to 2010. Hotels included in the Block Hotels group were impressive inns like Nyali Beach, the Treetops Lodge, and Naivasha Country Club. Later, in 1994, Somaia added an Indian publishing house to his growing list of companies. Cine Asia puts out a well-known Bollywood film magazine worldwide.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, the group that owns the Sheraton hotel chain, took over the management of Block Hotels in Kenya. The takeover hopes to bump up the Kenyan tourist scene and help make Kenya an even more popular African travel spot.
Hobbies and Habits
Ketan Somaia is active in sports like tennis, badminton and pool. He’s also an avid swimmer. Other hobbies include traveling, reading, and cooking.
Somaia was named businessman of the decade by the NRI. He also received the EBS Award from the Kenyan government for his great accomplishments in the field of business.
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