Over the years, those who visit and those who stay in Nairobi have come across some famed iconic buildings that serve as landmarks and meeting points. One of them is the Overseas Trading Company (OTC) building along Ronald Ngala Street, which has been under construction in the past decade.
Although it had been covered with a green safety net during the construction period, the OTC Building remained, and still is, a landmark to many travelling to and from upcountry near the bus station.
With the building well known among a majority of Nairobi residents, its owner remains low-key. In this segment, Times Digital Kenya takes a look at the businessman behind the OTC Building and other projects he has invested in.
Who Owns the OTC Building and How He Acquired It
Having run the OTC Building for barely over two decades now, Victor Maina Ngunjiri, a Thika-based entrepreneur, is actually the man behind it.
Maina Ngunjiri acquired the OTC Building back in 2006 from Nilesh Dayalji Shah and Ravinder Lakhamshi at a cost of Shs 72 million. At the time of purchase, tenants were still in occupation and remained after he acquired it.
Also known as the Wholesale Mall, the OTC Building initially housed Jack n Jill Supermarket just after Maina took over.
Later, a dispute arose when Schon Noorani, the owner of Jack n Jill Supermarket, engaged in a court battle with Maina after the latter asked him to vacate the space for repairs.
Noorani was not satisfied with the decision and fought the case for years, but the court eventually ruled in favor of Maina, leading to the demolition of the supermarket.
Thereafter, Maina Ngunjiri began renovating the OTC Building. Covered in green netting for many years, construction was finally completed in 2023. The building transformed from what was once seen as an abandoned structure into a fully functional shopping center.
Maina Ngunjiri’s Rise to Entrepreneurship
According to Maina, he initially started as a businessman working as a hawker at Marikiti, Nairobi.
After several years at Marikiti, he relocated to Muthurwa, where he continued hawking. Through hard work and consistency, Maina eventually progressed from being a hawker to owning several business ventures.
Among his other investments is the Mathai Supermarket, which currently has several branches in Karatina, Ruiru, Thika, Nairobi, Nyeri, Meru, Murang’a, and Embu.
Apart from the supermarket, Maina Ngunjiri also owns Klub Image Hotel as well as Klub Liquid Cash, both in Thika. He has also invested in real estate, owning several flats in Thika.
