According to the 2022 attitudes survey issued with Knight Frank’s annual Wealth Report, there are 3,362 dollar millionaires in Kenya. The report categories wealthy Kenyans into high net worth individuals who are valued at $1 million (Ksh113 million) and ultra-high net worth individuals valued at $30 million (Ksh3.4 billion).
Although the report did not mention names, it has been in the public domain that most of Kenya’s wealthiest class are men. However, there are a number of women who fall under the category of Kenya’s wealthiest, owning multibillion businesses.
Below are the top five wealthiest Kenyan women:-
1. Mama Ngina Kenyatta
Although her wealth is thought to be communally owned by the first family, the former first lady not only flexes her muscles with men in Kenya, but also in the continent. In 2013, she was listed among 55 Africa’s dollar billionaires alongside Naushad Merali and Manu Chandaria. At that time, she had a net worth of $1 billion (Ksh86 billion) spread in real estate, banking and hospitality sectors.
2. Jane Wanjiru Michuki
As of 2018, Wanjiru had a 9.5 percent stake in Britam worth Ksh5.4 billion. The stake is owned through an investment vehicle where she has a 44.4 percent stake. Wanjiru, a Managing Partner at the Kimani and Michuki Advocates, owns shares worth over Ksh5 billion at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Previously, Wanjiru served as a Board Member and Chairperson of the Institute for Education in Democracy; Founding Member, Trustee and Vice Chairperson of Federation Of Women Lawyers.
In addition, she has served as a Board Member for the British American Tobacco Kenya, Board Member Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF). Currently, she serves as a Board Member of Nyumbani Children’s Home and the Chairperson of The National Construction Authority of Kenya.
3. Tabitha Karanja
Tabitha founded Keroche Breweries Limited alongside her husband Joseph Karanja in 1997, with a capital of Ksh500,000. The company has grown to be the second-largest brewer in the country, estimated to b worth over Ksh8.5 billion as of 2020.
4. Jane Wangui Njuguna
Wangui is the wife to celebrated banker Dr James Mwangi. She is among the 23 women billionaires worth over Ksh3 billion, according to the 2020 Knight Frank Wealth Report.
5. Catherine Nyongesa
Together with her husband Mr Samson Watta, a US-based pharmacist, she founded Texas Cancer Centre in Nairobi, one of the biggest cancer centres in the region.
The physician and radiation oncologist is the first woman radiation oncologist in Kenya. She serves as Chairwoman of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO).
She is the clinical coordinator at the Cancer Treatment Centre of Kenyatta National Hospital. She is also an honorary lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
