This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Naivas supermarkets chairman Simon Gashwe Mukuha has died after suffering a heart attack, leaving behind a legacy of growth and expansion for the retail giant.
According to Naivas supermarket Chief Operations Officer Willy Kimani, Mr. Mukuha passed away on Monday evening at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, where he had been undergoing treatment since last week.
Mr. Mukuha's death comes as a shock to the business community, particularly given the family's long-standing feud over ownership of the company.
His father, Peter Mukuha Kago, owned 20% of the business at the time of his death in 2010, sparking a bitter dispute between family members over the rightful ownership of the stake.
Newton Kagira, a brother of the late Simon Gashwe, had moved to court to claim part of the ownership, alleging that he had the rightful stake in the business. The case has been dragging on in court since 2010.
Despite the family feud, Naivas has continued to grow and expand under the stewardship of Simon Gashwe and David Kimani, who acts as the managing director of the retailer.
