East Africa’s richest man Mo Dewji eyes Coca-Cola, Pepsi, with $50M Kenya Expansion
The investment marks MeTL’s latest push to expand its low-cost beverage model beyond Tanzania.
SUNDAY May 17, 2026
By Adam Ihucha
The Tranquillity News Correspondent, Kenya
Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji is preparing a $50 million soft drinks manufacturing plant in Kenya as he steps up competition against beverage giants – Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo – in East Africa’s largest economy.
The planned facility, to be built in the coastal city of Mombasa through Dewji’s conglomerate MeTL Group, will manufacture the company’s flagship brands including Mo Cola, Mo Xtra and Mo Malto.
The investment marks MeTL’s latest push to expand its low-cost beverage model beyond Tanzania, where Mo Cola built a strong following by undercutting global rivals on price.
According to Kenya’s Business Daily, MeTL plans to sell 300-millilitre bottles of Mo Cola for about 15 Kenyan shillings ($0.12), far below competing brands that retail at around 40 shillings.
Dewji said the project is already in the planning phase and construction could begin within the next year.
“I’m setting up a plant in Uganda, and I now have land in Mombasa. I’m also looking into establishing a carbonated soft drinks plant,” Dewji told reporters after attending the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
“Although we are still at the planning stage, we believe there is a strong possibility of starting construction within a year,” he added.
Known widely across East Africa as ‘MO’, Mohammed Dewji built his fortune through businesses spanning consumer goods, manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics.
The former Tanzanian lawmaker and owner of football club Simba SC transformed MeTL Group into one of East Africa’s largest indigenous conglomerates.
According to Forbes, Dewji’s net worth is estimated at about $2.1 billion.
His beverage strategy has centred on affordability and mass-market reach, with the Mo Cola brand named after his own nickname.
The Mombasa investment comes as MeTL accelerates regional expansion.
The group is also planning a manufacturing facility in Uganda while strengthening distribution networks across Rwanda, Zambia, and Mozambique.
Its beverages, including Mo Cola and Mo Xtra, are already sold in Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The investment also highlights growing interest in Mombasa among African industrialists seeking access to East Africa’s fast-growing consumer market and strategic logistics corridor.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote recently said he was considering Mombasa as the preferred site for a proposed $15 billion-$17 billion East African crude oil refinery, citing the city’s deep-water port and regional connectivity.
Competition in Africa’s beverage sector has intensified in recent years as regional billionaires and multinational firms race to capture the continent’s youthful and rapidly urbanising population.
The Coca-Cola Company has pledged to invest about $1 billion in South Africa by 2030, while Pepsi bottling giant Varun Beverages has expanded operations in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Together, the investments reflect rising confidence in Africa’s expanding middle class and growing demand for affordable consumer goods.
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Adam Ihucha is a prominent Tanzanian journalist and author recognized for his extensive coverage of tourism, wildlife conservation, and economic issues in East Africa. Based in Arusha, he serves as a senior correspondent for The Tranquility News and is a long-time contributor to eTurboNews (eTN), where he provides global insights into Tanzania's travel industry.
Throughout his career, Ihucha has written for several major publications, including The Guardian (Tanzania) and The EastAfrican. His work frequently highlights the intersection of environmental conservation and economic development, covering critical topics such as anti-poaching initiatives, national park management, and regional trade within the East African Community. His journalism is noted for its advocacy for sustainable tourism and its role in documenting the achievements of Tanzania's tourism sector.
Email contact: ihucha@tranquilitynews.com
