Who is Ketan Somaia?

The entrepreneur and businessman Ketan Somaia is a native of Kenya. He was born in the city of Kampala on September 5th, 1961, and currently resides in the UK capital of London.

Ketan Somaia is best known for founding the Dolphin Group, an international business conglomerate comprised of daughter companies he established, co-established, and/or ran. These companies operate mostly in Africa, in diverse business fields. Over the years, the Dolphin Group has proved to be a motor for growth in Kenya in particular and Africa in general.

Ketan Somaia's business career has garnered many praises and awards, including EBS, one of Kenya's most prestigious awards for business achievement. NRI named him in 1992 the international businessman of the decade.

Mr. Somaia has many interests and hobbies besides entrepreneurship and business. He is very active in sports, and enjoys swimming, playing tennis, badminton and also snooker. His active and varied business life has made him passionate about travelling. When he stays in he likes to read and cook.

Career Upstart

Ketan Somaia's career took off in 1989, when he established Marshalls (East Africa) Ltd, Mivani Sugar Company, Dolphin Leisure Club Ltd and International Casino. He was the Chairman of all these companies.

Marshalls (East Africa) Ltd is a car distributor, one of the most prominent in Africa. Marshalls (East Africa) Ltd holds the rights to distribute and market world renowned brands, such as Peugeot (France), Honda (Japan) and Tata (India).

Ketan Somaia's International Casino owns casinos in Kenya's Nairobi and Mombasa. Mivani Sugar Company, on the other hand, is one of Kenya's largest producers of sugar. Dolphin Leisure Club Ltd is a London-based business. It's a multi-purpose fitness and leisure club, one of the most popular independent such clubs for members only in the London area.

In 1992 Ketan Somaia expanded his burgeoning business empire when he founded and became Chairman of Block Hotels, one of Africa's first hotel chains, which includes such Kenyan hotels as World Famous Tree Tops, Nyali Beach and Naivasha Country Club. All in all, Block Hotels manages more than a dozen Kenyan hotels and lodges that are an integral part of the country's ever popular safari packages and tours and of Kenya's first-class beach resorts. Block Hotels has become so successful that it was purchased by one of the top global hotel icons in the world, Sheraton Hotel & Resorts.

In 1994 Ketan Somaia added Cine Asia Ltd to the list of company's he chairs. Cine Asia Ltd is an Indian Publishing house that publishes and distributes internationally a successful magazine about Bollywood films.

Dolphin Group

Ketan Somaia established the Dolphin Group, later to become a holding company named Dolphin Holdings. The group was established in an effort to broaden the scope of his successful organizations and it is one of the major forces, among others, that allow African tourism to grow on a yearly basis.

The Dubai-based Dolphin Group has operations around the globe, with an emphasis on international trade, finance and investments, and tourist trade, hotels and hospitality. The holdings company is now chaired by Lord Parkinson, which is one of Ketan Somaia' ex business partners.