Corruption scandals perpetrated by top Kenyan government officials discouraged Africa’s richest man, and Nigeria’s tycoon Aliko Dangote from expanding his business empire in Kenya.
In his own words, Dangote said they are more corrupt than in Nigeria.
This revelation was made public by TV personality Jeff Koinange after a private chat with the African business mogul.
The celebrated TV personality and host of the popular JKL show was one of the dignitaries invited by Dangote to her daughter’s wedding last month.
“I asked him, ‘Al Hajj when are you coming back to Kenya?” and he said, ‘Jeff, there are people in that place [Kenya] who put greed and personal interests ahead of national interests. I didn’t think Kenya would be more corrupt than Nigeria,” narrated during his breakfast show on Hot 96 FM.
Koinange has close ties with Dangote established when he was a correspondent in Nigeria with the Cable Network News (CNN).
He visited Kenya in September together with 50 other influential Nigerian businessmen. They had accompanied the then Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Forbes, Dangote’s value is estimated to be worth Sh1.5 trillion. During his visit, he expressed interest in setting up a Sh100 cement factory but nothing has happened since.
Reports are than he opted to start the project in Ethiopia and Zambia.