Fai Amario: Kenya’s Controversial Alcohol Tycoon and Infamous Businessman.

The Rise, Controversies, and Legacy of Fai Amario

Fai Amario, born Peter Gilbert Njoroge Ng’ang’a in 1954 in Banana, Kiambu County, was a name that evoked both admiration and fear in Kenya. An only child from a poor family, Amario rose to prominence as a masterful alcohol distiller and winemaker, gaining formal training in Israel at the Wine Institute in Rehovot, near Tel Aviv.

On returning to Kenya, he established a thriving factory employing over 200 people, producing brands such as Pooler, Medusa, Amario’s Sherry, Uhuru 2000, Kata Pingu, Mahewa, and Cantata. His business empire extended to depots in Meru, Murang’a, Thika, and Naivasha.

Property and Wealth
Amario accumulated significant wealth through his ventures, owning:
Amario Factory on 6.3 acres in Naivasha (Ksh105 million)
Den Hotel on 6.5 acres in Naivasha (Ksh93 million)
His residence on 1.32 acres (Ksh31 million)
Various residential properties and land parcels across Naivasha, Nairobi, Thika, Longonot, Embu, and Taita Taveta

Controversies and Legal Troubles
Amario’s life was marred by multiple controversies:
1996 Murder Accusations: Amario was accused of murdering his deputy manager, Gitau Karago, who had reported a Ksh212,000 discrepancy. Karago was found dead with a six-inch nail in his head, while depot manager Makimei Njoroge survived and identified Amario as an attacker. The charges were eventually dropped.

2004 Alleged Spouse Murder: Police raided his Naivasha home suspecting he had killed his wife, Sarah Wanjiru. Instead, they found car parts, unlicensed shotguns, dismantled vehicles, and computers buried in his compound.
Robbery and Car Theft Syndicate: Amario was charged with violently robbing businessman Mulraj Kanji Patel of valuables worth Ksh2.8 million and leading a car theft ring.

Jail Term and Transformation
In 2005, Amario was sentenced to nine years at Kamiti Maximum Prison. While imprisoned, he claimed his outlook changed, focusing on improving the lives of fellow inmates. He was released after three years, having pleaded for mercy to attend to his children and businesses.
Fai Amario passed away in July 2010, leaving behind a complex legacy as a brilliant businessman, a controversial figure, and a man whose life story remains one of Kenya’s most notorious.