Nathoo Kanji

Nathoo Kanji, for example, an Ismaili merchant who arrived in Kenya in 1914, was partner to nearly half a dozen agreements over a period of fifteen years.

He partnered with other merchants from his community to operate shops in Mihuti and Nairobi, which retailed imports in exchange for African cash crops and agricultural goods. In one instance, Kanji remained the majority shareholder, while other partners paid in less than 5 percent of the total capital.

In other instances, Kanji maintained only a minority stake, while other partners paid in nearly 70 percent of the total capital. Whereas the former arrangement was conducive for Kanji to manage his single shop, the latter arrangement helped him gain a new foothold in western Kenya’s growing cotton industry by renting six mills in the Koru area.16

MINTZ-ROTH-DISSERTATION-2019

16 Odhavji Bejhar Bodani vs. Nathoo s/o Kanji and Nathalal Ranchhod, 1931, UONL RAC DF, Series 1, File No. 190.

Kanji’s full testimony states: “[Kanji] came to Kenya in 1914 and went into partnership in 1916 with Ratanshi Dharamshi and opened a Duka at Mihuti between Fort Hall and Nyeri [in Central Kenya]. [The] partnership dissolved in 1924 and [the] debtor received Ksh 4,700/- as his share of profit and goodwill. This Duka was thereafter carried on by the other partner. In April,1924, [Kanji] started to work as Commission Agent in Nairobi, and ceased at the end of 1925. [He] earned living expenses only. In September,1934, [he] opened another Duka at Mihuti in partnership with Tathalal Ranchhod, and traded as Nathoo Kanji & Co. [The] debtor put Ksh 4700/- in capital and other partner Ksh 250/- only. [The] business [was] managed by Rathalal Ranchhod. After 15 months trading made a profit of Ksh 2400/, and in November 1925, [they] took another partner Jadhavji, who put in Ksh 6250/-. [Kanji also] took on hire at six mills at Koru from Wali Hasham & Co., on [a] monthly [basis].”