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| Real Name/Full Name | Manilal Premchand Chandaria |
| Nick Name/Celebrated Name: | Manu Chandaria |
| Birth Place: | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 1 March 1929 |
| Age/How Old: | 95 years old |
| Height/How Tall: | In Centimetres – 169 cm In Feet and Inches – 5′ 7″ |
| Weight: | In Kilograms – 83 Kg In Pounds – 183 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Black-Greyish |
| Hair Color: | Brown |
| Parents Name: | Father – Premchandbhai Chandaria Mother – Poonjiben Chandaria |
| Siblings: | 7 Siblings including 3 brothers and 4 sisters including Keshav Chandaria, Devchand Chandaria, Ratilal Chandaria |
| School: | Alidina Visram Primary School Duke of Gloucester School (now Jamhuri High School) Navanagar High School |
| College: | Jamnagar India University Bombay University of Oklahoma |
| Religion: | Jain |
| Nationality: | Kenyan |
| Zodiac Sign: | Pisces |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Girlfriend: | N/A |
| Wife/Spouse Name: | Aruna Chandaria |
| Kids/Children Name: | Son – Neal Chandaria Daughter- Priti Chandaria |
| Profession: | Entrepreneur, Industrialist and Businessman |
| Net Worth: | $1.7 Billion |
| Last Updated: | November 2024 |
Manu Chandaria is a renowned Kenyan businessman, industrialist, and entrepreneur. He has an Indian descent, though fully a Kenyan born in Nairobi. Manu Chandaria has his popularity lie on the billion-dollar enterprise where he is the senior member known as Comcraft Group of Companies which has had its presence in more than 40 countries globally.
He has received several awards following the success he has had in the business field. His company is mainly known to operate fully in Eastern Africa, involving operations as Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), Kalukuworks Limited, and Insteel Limited in Kenya. Uganda Baati Limited, together with Shumuk Aluminium, is situated in Uganda, while the metal Products Limited and Aluminium Africa Limited are located in Tanzania.
Biography and Early Life
Manu Chandaria was born in Nairobi, Kenya, on 1st March 1929. His full birth name is Manilal Premchand Chandaria. He was born to his parents, known as Premchandbhai Chandaria, who is his father, and his mother, known as Poonjiben Chandaria.
Manu also had seven siblings who included 4 sisters and 3 brothers, with the elder brother and sister being born in India in 1916 and 1920. The rest of his siblings were all born in Kenya.
In his early childhood, they grew as a huge family consisting of 16 children as his two uncles lived with the family, with one uncle having 7 children and the other 1 child.
Education
Manu Chandaria is an educated man following a great investment from his father to ensure that his children’s future gets a different shape from the parents. Following this, his father was dedicated to educating his children.
Manu commenced his kindergarten school at Jain Temple, after which he joined a primary school in Nairobi. His father relocated to Mombasa for a business search, through which Manu went together with his father.
In Mombasa, he attended the Alidina Visram Primary School. His father went back to Nairobi, going back together with his son. Chandaria then joined Duke of Gloucester School (currently known as Jamhuri High School), where he completed both his primary and secondary school education.
He moved to Mumbai, India, where he enrolled at Navanagar High School as the family shifted due to World War II. After completing his high school in India, Manu then joined the University of Bombay in the year 1944 and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics.
Later, he joined the University of Oklahoma in the USA, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He also got a master’s from the same university. After this, he then went back to Kenya to apply his business acumen to his thriving family enterprise.
Personal Life: Wife, Kids, etc.
Manu Chandaria is a married man. He is married to Aruna Chandaria. Together with Aruna Chandaria, they have been blessed with 2 children; one son and one daughter. The name of their son is Neal Chandaria, while the name of the daughter is Priti Chandaria.
His wife, Aruna Chandaria, works with the family business. The lovebirds have 3 grandchildren from their son and daughter. The family lives in Muthaiga, Kiambu County, a neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya.
Is Manu Chandaria Gay?
No, Manu Chandaria is not gay. He is of a straight sexual orientation through which he is a married man. He is married to Aruna Chandaria, and together they live happily. The couple is blessed with 2 children.
Professional Career
Before going back to Kenya from the United States in his higher education level, the Chandaria family had gained some substantial holdings, which made it easy for the family to have ease in dominance in the lucrative steel and aluminium industry.
The Comcraft Group commenced from Chandarias father-in-law, who had planned a group of 10 people for the acquisition of the saucepan manufacturer Kenya Aluminium. The company had issues during the depression period.
Manu Chandaria came back to Kenya in 1951, after which he joined the then remaining asset of the company known as Kaluworks limited. He was given the job in the company as the second plant engineer. In the company were also other 6 family members. He continued to work in the company through which it commenced expanding in the 1950s and 60s, moving to other countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, India, Uganda, Congo, and Zambia.
The Comcraft Group of companies operates in more than 40 countries on 6 continents. The company is mainly known to operate fully in Eastern Africa, involving operations as Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), Kalukuworks Limited, and Insteel Limited in Kenya. Uganda Baati Limited, together with Shumuk Aluminium is situated in Uganda, while the metal Products Limited and Aluminium Africa Limited are located in Tanzania.
Currently, he is the senior member of the Comcraft Group, together with being the Chairman of the Bank of India advisory committee in Kenya.
Further to his business, Manu Chandaria has also established charitable trusts through his Chandaria Foundation. He has established the foundation in the 11 countries his companies operate in Africa.
Moreover, he is also a peacemaker which he is a member of the Global Leadership Council, and is also the Global Peace Foundation in Africa chairman and patron.
Awards and Achievements
Manu Chandaria has had great achievements in his career and hence leading to a successful career line. Following his achievements, he has been awarded both from East Africa together with international awards. Some of his awards and achievements include the following;
- In 2003, he got awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II
- In December 2003, he got awarded by former President Mwai Kibaki with the elder of the Burning Spear award.
- The Global Peace Foundation in Kenya, which he chairs, was nominated in 2013 for the UN Person of the Year Award due to its role in youth empowerment.
Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Manu Chandaria in 2024
Manu Chandaria has an estimated net worth of $1.7 Billion. This comes from his successful career in the family enterprise operating as the Comcraft Group of companies. The multi-billion company operates in more than 40 countries having huge success.
He owns his house in Muthaiga, Kiambu county neighbouring Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to this, he drives one of the most expensive cars and lavish life, being one of the richest Kenyans.
Some Interesting Facts You Need To Know
- Manu Chandaria once hosted Mother Teresa in their Nairobi home
- Manu grew and was raised up in Ngara, Nairobi area
- His wife’s father spoke fluent Kikuyu
In conclusion, Manu Chandaria is one of the richest persons in Kenya. He is not only a successful businessman but also a Philanthropist who is concerned with other people’s welfare. This is both in ensuring that they get their basic needs together with being a peacemaker. He runs the Chandaria Foundation together with being the chairman of the Global Peace Foundation in Africa.