Thomas P. G. Cholmondeley, Kenyan farmer and landowner, Died at 48

Thomas Patrick Gilbert “Tom” Cholmondeley was born on June 19, 1968, and died on August 17, 2016.

He was a Kenyan farmer.

Thomas was the great-grandson of the Lord Delamere, one of the first and most influential British settlers in Kenya.

Cholmondeley was in line to become the next, 6th, Baron Delamere.

Thomas attended the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 1987–1990, and then worked for the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation in Andover, Great Britain.

When he was back in Kenya from 1991 he started working for his family farming business and was then involved in many developing projects.

Thomas established a game cropping enterprise on Soysambu Ranch, the vast family estate in Kenya, which ran from 1992–2003, and which employed 15 people as well as building a modern abattoir and cold storage facilities.

Thomas also responsible for the design and layout of the Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary and the building of Delamere’s Camp in 1993, a high-class tourist lodge with a 6,000-acre (24 km2) exclusive sanctuary covering the area around Lake Elmenteita.

During 1994, Thomas was made a Director of Delamere Estates and in 1995 the chairman of Nakuru Wildlife Conservancy, a position he was elected to twice again.

During 1996, Cholmondeley introduced the first centre pivot irrigation into Naivasha and eventually the scheme covered over 600 acres (2.4 km2) and provided employment for approximately 500 people.

During the same year he organised the reconstruction of the “Delamere Milk Shop” into a petrol station on the outskirts of Naivasha, the A104 highway.

Which became a massive concern and Kenya’s busiest farm shop. Of note is the constructed wetland to cope with the sewage resulting from over 3000 customers per day.

Thomas’s energies turned to building the first straw bale building in Gilgil, the location being on the edge of the Otutu forest.

Cholmondeley created the leases and design criteria for two further tourist lodges, Mbweha Camp on the edge of Lake Nakuru National Park, and Mawe Mbili lodge.

Which had been a part of the greater plan for the Soysambu Conservancy, together with the establishment of two forestry partnerships covering 510 acres (2.1 km2).

During April 2005, he shot and killed a Kenya Wildlife Service game ranger on his ranch.

Cholmondeley claimed self-defence, and the murder case was dropped before going to trial.

In May 2006, Cholmondeley shot and killed a poacher on his Soysambu estate near Lake Naivasha.

Cholmondeley was acquitted of murder, but found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to serve eight months in prison.

Thomas was released on October 23, 2009.

Sally A. Brewerton became his wife in 1998, together they had 2 sons.

Thomas P. G. Cholmondeley passed away at 48 years old.