Meghji Pethraj Shah

Meghji Pethraj Shah, born in 1904 in Dabasang, Gujarat, India, began his business career in Nairobi in 1922. He started Raichand Brothers, which expanded into transport and trading. In 1928, donations were made to build a school and the Pethraj Jetha Building in Dabasang. In 1929, he formed a partnership with Premchand V. Shah, forming Kenya Aluminium Works. Premchand Raichand expanded into manufacturing aluminium utensils and opened a cotton ginnery. In 1943, the partnership ended, but M. P. Shah continued to operate Kenya Tanning Extract Co. 

Shah was a visionary businessman who was always looking for new opportunities. He was one of the first to see the potential of East Africa's growing economy, and he invested heavily in the region. He also played a role in the development of East Africa's infrastructure, including the construction of roads and railways. His companies employed thousands of people across the region, providing income and boosting local economies. 

In 1944, he started Raitan Pvt Ltd in Mumbai to import tannin into India. In 1949, he started Colonial Merchants to import textiles and acquired a 16,000-acre sisal plantation in Tanzania. In 1952, he formed Guarantee Discount Co in Kenya to provide hire purchase financing. From 1953 to 1964, he built over one hundred hospitals, medical facilities, colleges, and schools in Gujarat and Kenya. In 1953, he retired from active management and sold off his companies, allocating his future income and capital to charitable trusts.