Worth KSh 131.7b: 10 companies that were awarded gov't tenders, their owners

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- PPRA data revealed that just 10 suppliers shared contracts worth KSh 131.67 billion out of Kenya's KSh 217.45 billion in reported public tenders

- Three Chinese firms featured among the top 10 winners, with Linzi Finco LLP emerging as the single biggest beneficiary at KSh 42.52 billion

- The concentration of government contracts among the top 10 firms doubled sharply from 28.1% the previous financial year

A cluster of ten companies dominated Kenya's public procurement landscape in the financial year ended June 2025, sharing contracts worth KSh 131.67 billion and accounting for 60.5% of the KSh 217.45 billion in reported tenders during the period.

This is according to data from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

The contracts, spanning 11 awards across infrastructure, water, housing, and transport, were spread among a mix of local and foreign firms.

Which company topped the list?

According to Business Daily, the single largest award went to Linzi Finco LLP, which secured KSh 42.52 billion for the Talanta Sports City project, a sum equivalent to nearly a third of the total value captured by all ten leading suppliers.

The company listed Thomas Kimeu Mulwa, managing director of Liaison Group, as its beneficial owner.

Liaison Group's ownership structure draws in prominent figures: former president Daniel arap Moi's long-time aide Joshua Kulei holds an estimated 33% indirect stake in Liaison Capital, one of the two partners behind Linzi Finco LLP.

Kulei is the second-largest shareholder in Liaison Capital, behind James Mahihu at 42%, while Mulwa holds 20% and Liaison Group itself holds 5%.

Shyam General Merchants Limited, whose beneficial owner is disclosed as Harish Meghji Rabandia, ranked fourth with two contracts totalling KSh 10.44 billion, both awarded by the State Department for Housing.

These covered the Milimani mixed-use affordable housing project (KSh 5.42 billion) and the Kanduyi Airstrip in Bungoma (KSh 5.02 billion).

Which Chinese companies featured?

Three Chinese state contractors appeared in the top ten.

These are Sinohydro Corporation (KSh 23.63 billion), China Communications Construction Company (KSh 16.95 billion), and Jiangxi Construction Engineering (Group) Co. Ltd (KSh 6 billion).

This signaled a renewed reliance on Chinese firms for large-scale infrastructure delivery.

Other major contract winners

Miliki Development Company, whose beneficial owner Tian Yisheng shares the firm with several co-owners including Pamela Jelimo Saina and Stanley Moses Kahenya, bagged a KSh 8.34 billion tender from the Kenya Ports Authority to widen port roads.

Landmark Holdings Limited, linked to the Sethi family, picked up KSh 6.22 billion for Phase 1B of the Makongeni affordable housing project in Nairobi.

Jiangxi Construction Engineering was awarded kSh 6 billion to install fibre-optic cable along a 38-kilometre road corridor.

Chaju Builders Limited, whose beneficial owner is Cornel Opiyo Osano, who is also the main shareholder of Grand Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu, won KSh 5.56 billion for the Nasewa industrial park project in Busia.

Victoria Engineering Company Limited secured KSh 3.68 billion to upgrade a road in Turbo to bitumen standard.

The concentration compares sharply with the prior financial year, when the top ten suppliers shared 38 contracts worth KSh 73.9 billion, representing 28.1% of the KSh 262.76 billion awarded across 34,224 contracts.

PPRA data indicates that the current year's consolidation has raised questions about equitable access to public contracts and the influence of well-connected business networks on government procurement outcomes.

Which tender did KeNHA advertise?

In other news, in order to supply, install, and configure 66 software licenses for the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP), which is supported by the World Bank, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) released advertised a tender for eligible bidders.

The Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP) is a significant regional project overseen by KeNHA that aims to improve the Isiolo–Mandera road corridor, increase digital infrastructure, and stimulate economic growth in Northern Kenya. It is supported by the World Bank with about USD 750 million.

In addition to installing fiber-optic cables and building socioeconomic facilities including schools, wayside stores, milk coolers and veterinary posts, the project encompasses roughly 740–764 km of highways throughout the counties of Meru, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

On August 11, 2026, the particular procurement notice, with tender number KeNHA/3004/2026 and reference number KE-KENHA-556111-GO-RFB, was released. Two lots covering different types of specialised software are included in the procurement.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.