Carey Eaton, a leading Kenyan businessman steering various e-commerce portals, died last month aged 41.
Eaton was shot dead during a robbery in Loresho, Nairobi, as the wave of crime in the country rises. He succumbed to head injuries while being treated. The armed robbers forced their way into a house they were in and stole household goods, cash as well as other valuables.
Mr Eaton was the CEO and co-founder of the One Africa Media (which runs Cheki, BrighterMonday, BuyRentKenya and StayNow in Kenya), as well as similar internet businesses across Africa.
The marketer was also on the boards of many companies and was well respected as a leader in the emerging online business sector where he also played a mentorship role to young technology entrepreneurs.
Previously CIO of the Australian classified group SEEK, Mr Eaton returned home to Kenya in 2011 to start Cheki. From humble beginnings, he grew Cheki into Kenya’s number one online car portal and the larger group of companies into Africa’s largest classified group. The Kenyan operation now includes over 150 people spread across the country.
He featured on the cover the Nairobi Business Monthly in April 2013, where he revealed that Cheki Africa had sold cars worth Sh3.4 billion in an industry with its fair share of failures. One Africa Media says that Eaton was intelligent and bold but wielded this gift with a humility that gave him the confidence to achieve more than they knew was possible.
Mr Eaton leaves behind his wife Steph, and children Noah, ILola, Ted and Archie. “It is not Carey the business leader that we will miss as much as Carey the man: energetic, passionate and connected to us all in some special way. What can never be taken away is the legacy around us in the team and the brands that he built. When we have mourned the loss of our friend we will, with renewed resolve, get back to building his vision into a great legacy,” One Africa management said in a statement.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
