20 Kenyan firms and the multi-millionaire women behind them

Kenya’s private sector is being reshaped by a powerful wave of women entrepreneurs who now control significant stakes in banking, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, agribusiness and tourism.

From NCBA Group and KCB to Keroche Breweries, East African Breweries and fast-growing clean-energy startups, women-led enterprises are driving capital formation, job creation and regional expansion.

These women are not only breaking glass ceilings in traditionally male-dominated industries but also building scalable enterprises that generate employment, attract capital, and project Kenya’s economic ambition beyond its borders.

From breweries and banks to clean-energy ventures and oncology centres, these women-led firms reflect a shift in ownership, innovation, and leadership across East Africa’s largest economy. Many of them built their companies against steep odds, limited access to funding, regulatory pressure, and entrenched gender bias, yet emerged as category leaders and national employers.

Their influence extends beyond balance sheets. Several have anchored local supply chains, expanded financial inclusion, advanced healthcare access, and introduced sustainability-driven business models aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals. Others are exporting Kenyan creativity, technology, and services to global markets.

Together, these 21 women profiled by Shore Africa represent a new generation of African capital builders, strategic, impact-driven, and unapologetically ambitious. Their firms are not side stories in Kenya’s growth narrative; they are central to it.

1. Mama Ngina Kenyatta and stakes in NCBA Group
Mama Ngina Kenyatta, Kenya’s former First Lady, heads one of the country’s wealthiest and most influential families, with interests spanning agriculture, banking, real estate, media, and hospitality. The Kenyatta family owns over 500,000 acres of land, holds a 13.2 percent stake in NCBA Group, controls Brookside Dairy, which commands 60 percent of Kenya’s dairy market, and owns Mediamax Network Limited (K24 TV, The People Daily). Their Northlands City project is set to transform Kenya’s urban landscape.

2. NCBA Group: Zarin Merali controls 74.06 percent of Sameer Africa
Zarin Merali manages the estate of her late husband, Naushad Merali, founder of Sameer Group and one of Kenya’s most successful entrepreneurs. The family controls 74.06 percent of Sameer Africa, 65.46 percent of Sasini Tea, and 5.2 percent of NCBA Group, alongside other private holdings through Legend Investments Ltd. Though Naushad Merali’s net worth peaked at $370 million in 2015, Zarin’s current fortune is estimated at $220 million.

3. KCB Group, Capital Media Group: Mary-Ann Musangi
Mary-Ann Musangi oversees the Kirubi family estate following the passing of her father, business tycoon Chris Kirubi. She manages investments in Centum Investment Plc, KCB Group, Haco Industries, and Capital Media Group, among others.

4. Leah Wanjiku Muguku
Leah Wanjiku Muguku is a pioneer in Kenya’s agribusiness sector. After leaving her teaching career in 1963, she co-built Muguku Poultry Farm into a large-scale operation producing 500,000 chicks per day. Beyond agriculture, she owns the high-end Waterfront Mall in Karen, Nairobi (valued at $23.2 million) and holds a 0.9 percent stake in Equity Group Holdings, valued at around $12 million. As administrator of her late husband Nelson Muguku’s estate, she has become a significant player in agriculture and real estate.

5. Amarjeet Patel
Amarjeet Patel is a seasoned investor with interests across manufacturing, banking, and real estate. Through Aksaya Investment Holdings, she holds 49.9 percent of Carbacid Investments Plc, owns stakes in Co-operative Bank of Kenya ($11.57 million), and has major holdings in Williamson Tea, Bamburi Cement, and Sanlam Kenya Plc (20.7 percent). Patel’s strategic investments have solidified her reputation as one of Kenya’s most astute investors.

6. Jane Wangui Njuguna
Jane Wangui Njuguna co-founded Filimbi Ltd with Equity Bank founder Peter Munga. She holds a 1.62 percent stake in Equity Group Holdings, worth about $21.54 million, and also maintains notable investments in Britam Holdings. Wangui’s independent success as an investor, distinct from her husband, Equity Group CEO James Mwangi, positions her among Kenya’s leading private investors.

7. Jane Wanjiru Michuki
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is the founder and managing partner of Kimani & Michuki Advocates, one of Kenya’s top corporate law firms. She is also a major player on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, holding a 7.1 percent stake in Britam Insurance valued at $9.4 million. Michuki’s expertise in law and finance has made her a powerhouse in Kenya’s corporate landscape.

8. Tabitha Karanja — Keroche Breweries
Tabitha Karanja is the founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries, Kenya’s first large-scale indigenous-owned brewery. She disrupted a decades-long monopoly in the alcohol industry, building a manufacturing powerhouse that employs over 1,000 people directly and supports thousands more across agriculture and distribution. Keroche sources raw materials locally, strengthening Kenya’s supply chains while reducing import dependence. Despite regulatory battles and industry pushback, Karanja scaled Keroche into a nationally recognized brand portfolio. Her success has positioned her as one of Kenya’s most influential industrialists and a symbol of resilience in male-dominated manufacturing.

9. Esther Muchemi — Samchi Group
Esther Muchemi chairs Samchi Group, a diversified Kenyan conglomerate with interests in telecommunications, microfinance, hospitality, and real estate. Starting from modest ICT roots, Muchemi steadily expanded the group into a multi-sector enterprise serving both retail and corporate clients. Samchi’s microfinance arm plays a role in supporting SMEs, while its ICT solutions serve enterprises across East Africa. Muchemi’s leadership reflects a long-term capital allocation strategy rather than short-term gains, positioning Samchi as a quiet but resilient player in Kenya’s private sector.

10. Wandia Gichuru — Vivo Fashion Group
Wandia Gichuru is the founder and CEO of Vivo Fashion Group, one of East Africa’s most successful fashion retail companies. Through brands such as Vivo Woman and Shop Zetu, she has built a vertically integrated business that champions African design while maintaining commercial scalability. Vivo works closely with local artisans and tailors, creating sustainable jobs across Kenya’s fashion value chain. Gichuru has also positioned her brands for international visibility, bridging African creativity with global retail standards. Her work has reshaped perceptions of African fashion as both premium and profitable.

11. Jennifer Riria — Kenya Women Holding (ENAF)
Jennifer Riria is the founder of Kenya Women Holding, the parent company of Kenya Women Microfinance Bank (KWFT). A pioneer of women-focused finance in Kenya, Riria built one of the country’s largest microfinance institutions, serving millions of women entrepreneurs. Her model combines financial access with advocacy, training, and social empowerment. ENAF’s impact extends beyond banking, influencing national policy on women’s economic inclusion. Riria’s work has earned global recognition, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards, cementing her legacy as a transformative force in African finance.

12. Charlot Magayi — Mukuru Clean Stoves
Charlot Magayi is the founder of Mukuru Clean Stoves, a clean-energy company tackling household air pollution through affordable biomass cooking solutions. Her stoves significantly reduce harmful emissions, improving health outcomes for low-income households across Kenya and beyond. Mukuru’s pay-as-you-go model has enabled mass adoption, reaching millions of users. Magayi’s innovation earned global acclaim, including the prestigious Earthshot Prize. By blending environmental sustainability with scalable business models, she has positioned Mukuru as a global reference point for climate-focused African entrepreneurship.

13. Jane Karuku — East African Breweries Limited (EABL)
Jane Karuku is one of Kenya’s most seasoned corporate executives, having served as CEO of East African Breweries Limited, a Diageo subsidiary and one of the region’s largest consumer goods companies. Her leadership strengthened EABL’s operational efficiency, regional expansion, and brand portfolio. Karuku previously held senior roles in agriculture and development finance, giving her a rare cross-sector perspective. She remains a key figure in Kenya’s corporate governance landscape, serving on multiple boards and influencing capital allocation at scale.

14. Catherine Nyongesa — Texas Cancer Centre
Catherine Nyongesa is the founder of Texas Cancer Centre, a leading oncology services provider in Kenya. Motivated by gaps in cancer diagnosis and treatment, she built a healthcare institution offering advanced radiotherapy and oncology care previously inaccessible to many Kenyans. Texas Cancer Centre has treated thousands of patients, reducing the need for costly overseas medical travel. Nyongesa’s work has reshaped Kenya’s private healthcare ecosystem, positioning her as a critical player in health-sector investment and innovation.

15. Sarah Kabu — Bonfire Adventures
Sarah Kabu is the co-founder and CEO of Bonfire Adventures, one of Kenya’s most recognizable travel and tour companies. She built the firm into a dominant brand in domestic tourism while expanding its footprint across East Africa and global destinations. Bonfire’s success has helped democratize travel for middle-income Kenyans and strengthen tourism-linked value chains. Kabu’s entrepreneurial journey highlights how brand-building and customer experience can unlock scale in service-driven industries.

16. Mary Okello — Makini Schools
Mary Okello is the founder of Makini Schools, a premium private education network operating across Kenya. She built the institution from a single school into a multi-campus group known for academic excellence and holistic education. Makini Schools later attracted private equity interest, underscoring its commercial viability. Okello’s success demonstrates how education can be both mission-driven and investment-grade, influencing the broader private education market in East Africa.

17. Flora Mutahi — Melvin’s Teas
Flora Mutahi is the founder of Melvin’s Teas, a value-added tea processing and exporting company. She transformed Kenya’s tea from a bulk commodity into a branded consumer product sold internationally. By focusing on packaging, branding, and export diversification, Mutahi unlocked higher margins within an established sector. Her success has influenced Kenya’s agribusiness strategy, encouraging more local processing and brand ownership.

18. Faith Odhiambo — AfriCabs
Faith Odhiambo founded AfriCabs, a corporate-focused mobility and logistics company serving diplomatic missions, corporates, and NGOs. By prioritizing reliability and security, AfriCabs carved out a premium niche in Kenya’s transport sector. Odhiambo’s model highlights the profitability of specialization within urban mobility.

19. Lorna Rutto — EcoPost
Lorna Rutto is the founder of EcoPost, a circular-economy company converting plastic waste into durable construction materials. EcoPost supplies fencing posts and building materials across East Africa, tackling pollution while creating green jobs. Rutto’s enterprise has become a reference point for sustainable manufacturing in Africa.

20. Ivy Nyikuli — Trace Africa
Ivy Nyikuli is the founder of Trace Africa, a logistics and supply-chain services firm connecting African markets. Her company supports cross-border trade by improving efficiency and compliance. Nyikuli’s business reflects the rising importance of intra-African commerce under AfCFTA.