Entrepreneur with big dreams for cosy places to call home

Ian Henderson has been around the world doing different things: In 1986 he was in Ethiopia, doing logistics with Save the Children. Thereafter, he was involved in helping repatriate Namibians, from Angola, to vote in their home country.

In 1994, he was helping to get Eritreans who had fled to Sudan during civil strife to get back home and at the same time he was involved with the refugee crisis in Rwanda and Zaire (now DRC).

A Scot, he has worked in Uganda, Ghana and Mozambique. If there is one thing Ian noticed as he worked with the refugee crisis in the region, it is the deplorable underdeveloped structures in all these countries.

So he came to Kenya, just after the 2002 elections, and started a real estate development, which opened its doors in 2005. The development is Greenpark.

Located on 152 acres on Mombasa Road, at Stoney Athi, the first phase has 200 houses and is expected to increase to 620 by 2016 and boasts nursery school, playing area, shopping centre as well as a four star hotel.

I met him recently and we talked over lunch. From the onset I realised he had brought along his witty sense of humour.

In one line, how is Superior Homes different from the horde of other property developments flooding the market?

We don’t just build homes. We build communities. We build relationships.

What is your take on the construction business in Kenya? Be honest.

The sector is one of the most attractive and there is a real potential in this market due to the emerging middle class and the steady demand for houses. The challenge is on developers to bring well-planned developments and good and affordable houses to the market at an affordable price.

What are the Scottish known for apart from your traditional kilts and maybe your whisky?

We are a small nation – five million people – and we are also known for a lot more, for instance travel. We are also very smiley people. Again, not many people know this, but we are also ardent boat builders. I am personally a big boat enthusiast.

Do you own a big boat and does it have a sexy name?

I own one, but not so big. She’s a 54-feet long and this summer we are going to use her to go to Barcelona. I naturally will be the captain, which is great because I get to tell people what to do. Oh, and the boat is called Hakuna Matata.

How are Kenyans and the Scots alike?

(Thinks) Well, I think we both share the aspirations of family and friendships. We all love to get on.

What trait in Kenyans do you find most odd?

Their lateness, or their casualness in keeping time and appointments. That always baffles me. Also, coming from Scotland where business is straight, coming here some business practices can get a bit unsettling.

What is your greatest strength?

I’m a great communicator; I get my messages across very well. I’m also brilliant with sign language, and I can read body languages very well.

Oh, yeah? What does my body language say now?

It says, “ I want to do this and do it quickly!” (Laughs)

Wrong! It says, “I could use a boat of my own!”
(Laughs hard)

Apart from boats, are you into gadgets?

Not really. I’m not into the latest gizmos, but I love cars. Back home I have a BMW M5. My first business after school was to drive a small van, and this later became into a fairly sizeable transport company. At some point I owned a Lotus race car, it was a great car.

You have three sons, how was the experience of raising three boys?

My boys are now all grown, aged 32, 27 and 24. It wasn’t tough raising them because I was always out working. It was definitely tough for my wife. For instance when my second son was born, I was off to Ethiopia the next day for work.

Do you secretly wish for girls?

(Laughs) Well, I hope he doesn’t read this but we were hoping to dress our last born in a pink dress and tie his hair when he was a child.

When you want to have a beer, where do you go?

When I have visitors around, I would go to Westlands. Otherwise I would be at Muthaiga Golf Club. In case you are wondering, I don’t exercise as I should, but when I’m back home I normally play football every Friday with my friends.

What part of you life needs improvement?

I need to improve my interview skills! (Laughs)

And what are you most scared of?

I was scared of Scotland being eliminated from the world cup qualifiers. But that already happened. (Thinks). I think I’m scared of something happening to my family.

You have been married for 32 years and still on your feet. How have you done it?

(Laughs) The first 15 years are the hardest. If you can hang in there for 15 years the rest will be easy.

How you know you have the right woman?

You look at your mother-in-law; if you don’t like her, chances are you wont like your wife at that age.

What are you reading now?

That’s Any Human Heart by William Boyd.

What are you coming back in your next life as?

I think I want to be able to do something I’ve always wanted; start a charitable organization. This is something I have been working on for a while now.

What is the best advice you can offer a family trying to buy a home?

Buy the most expensive house you can afford. The value in a few years will make you glad you bought it.