The once-untouchable General Julius Karangi, former Chief of Defence Forces, is watching his vast business empire collapse under the weight of illness, unpaid bills, and relentless court cases.

General Julius Karangi was once the most feared man in Kenya. As the Chief of Defence Forces, he commanded armies; as a power broker, he whispered into the ears of presidents. He was the "man of steel" who seemingly owned half of Nairobi. But today, the steel has rusted. In a tragic turn of fate, the General’s fortress is being dismantled not by enemy fire, but by auctioneers and creditors. Reports emerging this week paint a picture of a crumbling empire, with the General himself battling severe illness while his assets are stripped away piece by piece.

The Slow Collapse of a Titan

The fall has been as dramatic as the rise. Sources indicate that Karangi’s flagship businesses, ranging from real estate to agriculture, are choking on debt. Properties that were once the jewels of his portfolio are now listed in the auctioneer’s gazette. The man who once gave orders that could shift national borders is now fighting a losing battle against banks demanding their pound of flesh. "It is a sad sight," says a former associate. "The discipline of the military did not translate to the chaos of business."

Compounding the financial ruin is his deteriorating health. The General has been in and out of hospitals, leaving a vacuum in the management of his affairs that opportunists have been quick to exploit. Unpaid bills are piling up—from legal fees to utility costs—painting a portrait of cash flow insolvency that defies the public perception of his immense wealth. The court cases are the final nail; litigation has drained his reserves and exposed the tangled, sometimes opaque, nature of his business dealings.

• The Auctioneer’s Hammer: prime properties in Nairobi and Nyeri are set to go under the hammer, a public humiliation for a man who valued privacy and control above all else.
• The Power Vacuum: With Karangi incapacitated by illness, his empire lacks a clear successor, leading to mismanagement and internal looting by employees.
• The "deep state" Myth: His fall demystifies the invincibility of the so-called "Deep State." It proves that without political cover and health, even the most powerful generals are vulnerable to market forces.

The Nut Graf: The Mortality of Power

Why does Karangi’s fall matter? Because it is a cautionary tale about the transience of power in Kenya. For years, Karangi was the embodiment of the state—strong, silent, and wealthy. His financial collapse signals the end of an era where generals could seamlessly transition into oligarchs. It exposes the fragility of wealth built on proximity to power rather than sustainable business fundamentals.

As the vultures circle his estate, the General remains a recluse, fighting his toughest battle yet—not for territory, but for legacy. The man who secured Kenya’s borders could not secure his own empire. It is a stark reminder to the current ruling class: power fades, health fails, and in the end, the ledger always balances itself. The crumbling of Karangi’s empire is not just a business failure; it is the twilight of a god.