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We have always imagined, correctly or not, that the Kenyatta family is the richest, at least in Kenya. Of course any such debate would not miss to feature names of former president Daniel Moi’s family.

President Kenyatta's family is among the biggest land owners in Kenya with further interests in real estate, dairy production and Hotel business.

Indeed a recent list of 55 top African billionaires by Ventures Africa had Manu Chandaria (28), Nicholas Biwott(47) and Mama Ngina Kenyatta (51)as the only Kenyans on the list.

But now Forbes magazine, renowned for ranking global rich and power lists, has this week released its 2014 list of 50 richest Africans and you will be shocked to find the rather familiar Kenyan names missing.

Of course both lists (The one by Ventures Africa and the latest one by Forbes) have Nigerian Aliko Dangote as the richest man from the black continent. According to Forbes, the 57 year old business magnate has a fortune of $21.6B (Sh 1.946 trillion). That could cover Kenya’s annual budget.

Merali, 63, ranked at number 46 on the list by Forbes is said to be worth $550M (Sh 49.5B). He stepped down as chairman of Bharti Airtel Kenya but still keeps a 5% shareholding in the mobile phone network. Merali has been selling off assets. In January 2013, he sold a 49% stake in Kenyan Internet service provider Swift Global to UK-based Liquid Telecom. He is currently working to sell a 51% controlling stake he owns in Equatorial Commercial Bank to a Kenyan Savings & Credit Society.

The list which has 27 dollar billionaires is dominated by Nigerians who number 13. South Africa has 11 slots on the list with Morocco and Egypt also having heavy representation.

See the full Forbes Africa’s rich list 2014 here: