A K Street Story
Koinange Street is one of Nairobi’s more infamous thorough fares. What many people may not know is the story behind one nondescript building that has been changing lives for half a century. Right between Monrovia and Mokhtar Daddah streets is the Rattansi Educational Trust Building. However its not just another Nairobi building, for what it represents is the powerful legacy of one man’s tenacity, success and philanthropic nature that has transformed the lives of thousands.
Mohamedally Rattansi arrived on a dhow at the port of Mombasa at the turn of the last century. Escaping the hardships of drought and famine in his rural Indian home in Kathiwar, he decided to try his luck in the newest colony of the British Empire. He literally arrived with nothing but the promise of a job as a trader. On arrival he was dispatched to Nyeri, which was several weeks walk from Mombasa to set up a barter and supplies duka in the hinterland. On the demise of the shop owner, he joined hands with another trader, Osman Allu to take over the business. Their business thrived even in the face of opposition from the settler community in the 1930s who tried to drive all Indians out of the colony. Over time Mohammedally grew to be one of Nyeri’s most prominent citizens with a thriving business that extended to Karatina. In time he met and married his wife Maniben and had ten children.
Mohammedally’s often shared that he owed his success to Kenya and he was forever bound to the country that enabled him and his family to thrive. In recognition of his dharma, or final duty, with his wife, he founded the Rattansi Educational Trust in 1957. For over 50 years the Trust has provided hundreds of scholarships and bursaries enabling needy Kenyan children to attend university. In recent years it has also turned to supporting infrastructure and technology development resources for Kenyan institutions.
Oh – and that building? All of the bursaries and awards of the Trust are funded from the rent from the Rattansi Educational Trust Building. You see – K Street has more stories than you know!
For more information on the Rattansi Educational Trust see: http://www.rattansieducationaltrust.or.ke
Selected photos courtesy of the Rattansi Trust.
