Yes, ambition is priceless, but the will and desire to achieve separates the haves and the have nots in any society.
Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru is a man in the haves bracket after successfully establishing a multi-billion shilling property in Murang'a despite numerous challenges.
The first-time senator is the brains behind the luxurious Thika Greens Golf Resort and Estate, which lies on a 1,700-acre parcel of land according to the company website.
File image of Kirinyaga Senator and Thika Greens Limited CEO Charles Kibiru. |Photo| Courtesy|
The resort boasts an 18 hole par 72 championship golf course sitting on 306 acres of a well-manicured grass landscape designed by South African architects DDV Group.
The establishment boasts a serene environment, quenching the thirst for luxury in entertainment and lifestyle.
Besides the scenic golf course, the resort boasts world-class accommodation services in the villas within the facility.
Senator Kibiru who is also the chief executive officer of the conglomerate commissioned the resort in 2014.
However, the road to the establishment of this magnificent feature was not a walk in the park.
In a past interview with Dinfin Mulupi, Kibiru revealed that he had a couple of failed starts before he found his feet with the project.
In 2005, the Kirinyaga Senator entered into a deal with 20 of his friends cum business associates to raise Ksh20 million. He revealed that after 6 months, he realised they would not achieve the target.
He branched out with four partners and together they founded Dozen Ventures Limited and brought eight more associates on board. In three months, they successfully raised Ksh12 million.
Together, they sought funding from lenders and acquired a quarter an acre of land in Spring Valley Estate in Nairobi for Ksh26 million. This marked the genesis of their rise to riches.
In one year, they constructed four houses on the plot at a combined Ksh70 million. They later sold them for Ksh26 million each. However, the company collapsed after the partners took their cut and left.
During this period Othaya Farmers Cooperative Society announced it was selling 1,135 acres of land located 40 kilometres from Nairobi.
Kibiru then marshalled his four primary partners with whom he formed Dozen Ventures, and they founded Thika Greens Limited with the hope of conquering the real estate industry.
“My vision was to create the first well-planned satellite town with proper infrastructure in place and in the end create a city out of the city. The construction of the Nairobi-Thika super highway was the confirmation that indeed this was the investment opportunity of a lifetime,” Kibiru was quoted as saying.
At the time, Othaya Farmers Cooperative Society sought Ksh850 million for the piece of land.
"In 2009 the five of us invited friends and business partners to the Jacaranda Hotel where we wooed them to invest at least Ksh.2 million each for a share in the project.
"We had nothing to offer them other than a receipt to prove they had made payment and the word of mouth that this would be the best investment they would ever make,” Kibiru narrated.
They managed to raise Ksh450 million in 2 months with each individual owning a minimum of Ksh4 million in shares and a maximum of Ksh24 million.
“By October 2009 we had secured a loan from a local bank and made full payment for the land. We bought an additional 571 acres bringing the total acreage of land in our possession to 1,706 acres,” Kibiru added.
They immediately embarked on development upon successful ownership of the land.
“We began the first phase by subdividing the land into 966 plots which were later sold to the public. At first the plots sold for Ksh.850,000 each but within three months’ time the price had risen to Ksh.1.2 million," Kibiru had explained.
The Senator attended Mwea Boys’ High School for his 'O' levels and later proceeded to Kamagambo Boys’ High School for his 'A' levels.
He later joined the University of Nairobi for a Bachelor of Arts Degree and later for an MBA – Strategic Management & Marketing in 1998.
Kibiru rejoined UoN in 2012 for a MA – Project Planning & Management course and in 2013, graduated with a Ph.D. in Business Administration.
He rose to fame after he defeated former Senator Daniel Karaba of Jubilee Party ticket. Kibiru vied as an independent candidate.
More photos from Thika Greens Golf Resort.
