Manilal Premchand Chandaria is a Kenyan businessman born on March 1, 1929. With a Kenyan and Indian descent, Chandaria spent most of his life in Nairobi. He attended Jamnagar India University, where he graduated with a BSc in engineering in 1950. He also earned his master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1951. Chandaria is a senior member of the Comcraft Group of Companies. In 2003, the late Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Order of the British Empire. Chandaria is the chair and CEO of the Kenyan-based steel and aluminum group Comcraft, a multi-billion business in Kenya and the African continent. Committed to the practice of Jainism, his family set up the Chandaria Foundation to further their belief. Currently, Comcraft operates in more than 11 African countries with $2 billion in annual revenues, employs over 30,000 people on three continents, and is the largest manufacturer of steel and aluminum products in Africa.
Manilal Premchand Chandaria believes in education and health. To that effect, his philanthropic work centered on helping children to further their education. He has been recognized by a number of educational and health institutions for his efforts in helping the betterment of society in the respective fields. The Chandaria family has set up charitable trusts in each country their foundation works to assist in their philanthropic exploits. Chandaria is the benefactor of numerous schools and clinics in Kenya and has been involved with more than 25 organizations, notable are; ford foundation, and Rockefeller foundation. Manilal Premchand Chandaria was awarded the Carnegie Medal of philanthropy in 2022 in recognition of his philanthropic works and contribution to society. Chandaria’s famous quote is: Have a fire in the belly, not the 'maybe I do it maybe I don't'. Have a clear-cut vision. You will fall but when you do, get up and run again.
