by STEVEN THUKU
Sunday April 23, 2023
The late tycoon, Mahat Kuno Roble, with Defence CS Aden Duale (left). The Garissa businessman passed away on Saturday, April 22, 2023 PHOTO ADEN DUALE/ALI KORANE
Aden Duale, the Defence Cabinet Secretary, on Saturday, April 22, 2022, announced the death of Garissa-based tycoon Mahat Kuno Roble.
Roble, renowned for owning the 75-room Almond Resort and Spa Limited in Garissa County, passed away in Saudi Arabia after a short illness.
“Verily we belong to Allah, and truly to Him shall we return”, following the death of our father, elder and Businessman Mzee Mahat Kuno Roble (MK) a short while ago in Medina Holy city,” Duale eulogised.
"Oh Allah, give him strength, forgive, pardon and have mercy on him. Cleanse him of his transgressions,” Duale added.
Ali Korane, former Garissa governor, also eulogised the late Roble stating that he was an eminent elder, accomplished businessman and philanthropist.
"The people of Garissa and the Somali community have lost an irreplaceable pillar," Korane mourned.
Incidentally, the deceased's children fought for his property years before his demise. In November 2018, the children moved to court to contest the multi-billion shilling empire.
Abdiaziz Mahat Kuno and Farhiya Mahat Kuno took their brother Mohamed Mahat Kuno to court, seeking control of the hotel.
In January 2019, as the first case was ongoing, Mohamed and another brother Ahmed filed a suit at the Milimani Commercial Court in Nairobi against the Registrar of Companies.
The duo accused the Registrar of Companies of illegally deregistering their firm.
“That the honourable court does issue an order of stay of the unlawful and irregular decision of the respondent deregistering the first applicant as a company through a Kenya Gazette Notice Number 12736 dated December 4, 2018, pending hearing and determination of the matter herein,” noted one of their prayers to the court.
At the time, it was reported that Kuni had transferred his properties and shares in various companies to his children. The cases are yet to be concluded.