List Of Shareholders Who Own The Standard Group
The Moi family remains firmly in control of Standard Group PLC, owning more than two-thirds of the media company’s shareholding, according to the latest beneficial ownership disclosures.
Records as of December 31, 2024 show that the family controls 69.03 per cent of the publisher of The Standard, KTN and Radio Maisha, cementing its position as the dominant shareholder in one of Kenya’s oldest media houses.
The disclosures also reveal that the Kulei family, linked to the late President Daniel arap Moi’s longtime aide Joshua Kulei, controls an additional 10.90 per cent stake, bringing the combined influence of the two families to nearly 80 per cent of the company.
The ownership structure underscores the continued influence of individuals closely associated with the Moi era in the governance of the publicly listed media company.
Moi Family Dominance
The largest stake is held through S.N.G Holdings Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom and linked to the Moi family.
According to the disclosures, Gideon Moi previously held more than 75 per cent beneficial control of S.N.G Holdings until a restructuring undertaken in 2022 transferred ownership into a British Virgin Islands entity.
The restructuring effectively removed the ownership chain from certain United Kingdom disclosure requirements.
Before his death in 2020, former President Daniel arap Moi had been listed as a person exercising significant influence over the holding structure.
The latest filings indicate that the family’s influence remains intact despite the changes in ownership arrangements.
Kulei Family’s Strategic Stake
The second-largest block is linked to the Kulei family through Trade World Kenya Limited, which owns 10.90 per cent of Standard Group.
Trade World Kenya is registered at Transnational Plaza in Nairobi, an address associated with several businesses linked to both the Moi and Kulei families.
Joshua Kulei, the former personal assistant to President Moi and one of Kenya’s most influential businessmen during the KANU era, is reported to hold an effective 38 per cent interest in Standard Group through various investment vehicles.
The disclosures suggest that Kulei’s influence within the media company extends beyond the direct shareholding reflected in the register.
Institutional and Individual Shareholders
Beyond the two dominant shareholder groups, ownership of Standard Group is spread across a relatively small number of institutional and individual investors.
Miller Trustees Limited is the third-largest shareholder with a 10.53 per cent stake, while businessman Ismail Gulamali holds 2.71 per cent.
Other notable shareholders include:
- The Standard Group Limited ESOP Trust – 0.33%
- Denroma Investment Limited – 0.29%
- Shah Savitaben Velji Raichand – 0.28%
- Goes Eufrazio Juliao – 0.27%
- Thuthuma Limited – 0.27%
- Saraj Properties Limited – 0.23%
A further 5.17 per cent is held by other minority shareholders.
Media Ownership Under Spotlight
The disclosures come amid increasing global attention on transparency in media ownership and corporate governance.
As one of Kenya’s largest listed media companies, Standard Group occupies a significant position in the country’s information ecosystem, making its ownership structure a subject of public interest.
The latest figures highlight the extent to which control of the company remains concentrated among a small group of shareholders, with the Moi and Kulei families collectively controlling close to four-fifths of the business.
The ownership concentration gives the two shareholder blocs substantial influence over key corporate decisions, board appointments and the strategic direction of the media house.
Founded more than a century ago, Standard Group remains one of Kenya’s most prominent media organisations, operating newspapers, television stations, radio platforms and digital news services serving audiences across the country.
