Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaign financiers

Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s appeal to ordinary Kenyans to fund raise for his campaigns ahead of the October 17 fresh election has been ridiculed by Jubilee leaders led by President Uhuru Kenyatta who argue the effort is tantamount to gambling.

Raila and his backers have, on the other hand, countered that whereas they are asking supporters to contribute as little as Ksh10 to the effort, Uhuru can count on his billionaire friends to finance his re-election bid.

The financial muscle of Uhuru supporters, coalescing under the Friends of Jubilee Foundation, came to the fore when they raised Ksh1 billion at a fundraising dinner held at Safari Park Hotel on June.

Majority of the guests at the invite-only dinner paid Ksh10 million per plate.

Today, Business Today revisits the names behind the moneyed lobby, based on filings with the NGO Cordination Board:

1. John Peter Nyangeri Simba

He is a billionaire and a close ally to the Simeon Nyachae family. Simba is a law graduate from the University of Dar-Es-Salaam and did his doctorate degree at the University of Nairobi. Dr Simba was previously served as chairman of the Federation of Kenya Employers, National Bank of Kenya, Kenya Bankers Association,  Kisii Bottlers Ltd, Retirement Benefits Authority, APA Insurance, Pan Africa Insurance Holdings, Choice Tea Brokers, Mather and Platt Kenya and the University of Nairobi, among others. He has also served in other capacities including President by Rotary Club of Nairobi.

He is the lobby group’s chairman.

2. Titus Ibui

He is the chairman of Kenya Leather Development Council Board. Ibui serves as secretary of the lobby group.

3. Paul Ndung’u

He is a major shareholder in a number of listed companies. He ranks among the top 10 shareholders in Kenya Airways, Housing Finance and Olympia. He also has interests in other listed firms. He also owns Mobicom telecommunications company but is best known as the man behind sports betting company, SportPesa. He is the lobby’s treasurer.

4. Peter Muthoka

He is the founder and CEO of Andy Forwarders, one of Kenya’s largest transport and logistics firm. He owns over 132 million shares in CMC Motors, a Kenyan car dealer which has the exclusive franchise for the Land Rover and Jaguar models in Kenya. He owns 132 million shares in the company, and at the last trading price of Ksh 13.50 a share, worth Ksh 1.77 billion. He is leading the Uhuru campaign in Ukambani region.

5. Joseph Njoroge

He is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. He holds an MBA with a major in strategic management and a First Class Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the Institute of Directors Kenya and a trainer in Corporate Governance.

6. Peter Munga

He is a businessman and entrepreneur. He has been the founding group chairman of the Equity Bank Group, before he retired early this year, the largest bank holding company on the African continent, by customer numbers with over 10million customer base. He is among the richest Kenyans, with a personal net worth exceeding Ksh10 billion.

7. Joel Kibe

He is a former member of the Board of Directors at CMC Holdings Ltd.

8. John Njiraini

He is the current Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) boss appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2012, whe he was the minister for Finance. When questions were asked why he was dabbling in politics, Njiraini said their aim was to “alleviate poverty.”

9. George Muhoho

He is a former Director General of the Kenya Airports Authority. George Muhoho is a son of Chief Muhoho and his wife Nyokabi. He is a brother to President Uhuru’s mother, former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta.

Others in the lobby group include Mombasa tycoon Suleiman Shabhal, businesswoman Mary Wambui Mungai, Magnate Ventures owner Stanley Kinyanjui, Mombasa billionaire Sam Kairu and Maina Wandere, the CEO of event organising firm, Wanderjoy Party World Ltd.

NEXT: Margaret Kenyatta goes Beyond Zero