Dr. Manilal Chandaria (Manu Chandaria)- /PHOTO ; courtesy
#AfricaPhilanthropyHeroes Countdown to Mashujaa Day…
Dr. Manilal Chandaria (Manu Chandaria) stands as one of Africa’s most respected philanthropists, a visionary who transformed the idea of giving from charity into a lifelong business principle.
Though he is the Chairman of Comcraft Group, a multibillion-dollar industrial conglomerate spanning more than 40 countries, Chandaria prefers a far humbler title.
“I am not a businessman,” he often says. “I am a social worker.”
That self-definition captures the essence of his life’s work: the conviction that the ultimate purpose of wealth is social upliftment.
For more than seven decades, Dr. Chandaria has championed a uniquely African model of philanthropy, one rooted in personal integrity, family values, and the belief that enterprise must serve humanity.
Building Philanthropy Into the Business Blueprint
In the mid-1950s, long before corporate social responsibility became a global trend, a young Manu Chandaria persuaded his family to create a formal giving structure, the Chandaria Foundation.
At the time, Comcraft was still a small trading and manufacturing enterprise. His insistence that a share of its profits be dedicated to community welfare was visionary, even radical.
He famously said that giving back should be built into a company’s plan from day one, not treated as an afterthought once wealth is accumulated.
That principle, now called “built-in philanthropy,” has since guided Comcraft’s culture and inspired countless other African businesses to institutionalize their giving.
Today, the Chandaria Foundation remains one of Kenya’s oldest and most active corporate foundations. Over the decades, it has disbursed tens of millions of dollars to education, health, and social development projects, touching lives across Kenya and beyond.
Investing in Minds and Health
Dr. Chandaria’s philanthropy focuses on two critical pillars for Africa’s progress: education and healthcare.
In education, the Foundation funds hundreds of scholarships each year, with a deliberate emphasis on girls’ education, a strategy that multiplies social benefits through empowered women and families. Beyond direct sponsorships, he has endowed lasting institutional legacies such as:
- The Chandaria School of Business (USIU–Africa), which nurtures ethical African business leaders.
- The Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (Kenyatta University), a launchpad for young innovators and entrepreneurs.
In health, his contributions have been equally strategic, targeting infrastructure gaps rather than short-term relief. Major facilities funded through his Foundation include:
- The Chandaria Accident and Emergency Centre at The Nairobi Hospital offers world-class trauma care.
- The Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
- The Chandaria Medical Centre at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, expanding specialized care for children.
Through these initiatives, Chandaria ensures that his giving delivers long-term, measurable impact, strengthening national systems rather than substituting them.
Championing Ethical Enterprise and Good Governance
Dr. Chandaria’s influence extends beyond philanthropy into the very structure of African enterprise.
Recognizing that business cannot thrive in a fractured society, he became a founding figure in the creation of the East African Business Council (EABC) and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).
These platforms have been instrumental in promoting ethical business practices, regional trade, and responsible leadership.
His message to fellow entrepreneurs remains consistent: profit is not the end goal; it is the means to improve society.
Through mentorship, advocacy, and quiet diplomacy, he has urged corporate leaders to view themselves as custodians of their communities, not merely of their companies.
Honours and a Global Legacy
For his life’s work, Dr. Chandaria has earned recognition at home and around the world.
He holds one of Kenya’s highest civilian awards, the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS), and has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 2022, he achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first African ever to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, a global honor celebrating individuals who have transformed the culture of giving.
The award recognized his pioneering integration of philanthropy within business, positioning him among the world’s most influential humanitarian leaders.
A Hero of Shared Prosperity
As Kenya prepares to celebrate Mashujaa Day, Dr. Manu Chandaria stands as a living reminder that greatness is not measured by what one owns, but by what one gives.
His philosophy that true prosperity is meaningless unless it is shared continues to inspire new generations of African entrepreneurs to build with purpose and to lead with conscience.
Through decades of visionary giving, he has proven that compassion and capitalism can coexist, and when they do, entire societies rise.
Dr. Manu Chandaria is not just a businessman who gives; he is a social architect of hope, a Mashujaa of generosity.
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