- Ouru Superstores Limited is owned by the families of Mr. Ken Nyakundi Mogaka and Mr. Ken Mugambi Mogaka.
- They also own Ouru Discount Centre, Ouru Twin Towers, and the Ouru Hyper Stores.
In the bustling banana land of Kisii, one family stands out as the guardians of prosperity.
Meet the Mogaka family, the driving force behind the vast business empire that includes Ouru Superstores, Ouru Twin Towers, and other landmarks within Kisii town.
In this article, WoK delves into the imposing business empire of the Mogaka family and their iconic presence in Kisii.
Ouru Superstores Limited
One of the most prominent businesses run by the Mogaka family is Ouru Superstores Ltd.
The business is a general wholesaler company that deals in a range of products, from construction materials to foodstuff.
The blue and red-themed store is a common landmark in South Western Kenya, with branches in Migori, Kisii, Bomet, Nyamira, and Homabay.
Ouru Superstores was started by the Ouru brothers in 1991 as Uhuru Discount Centre in 1991.
The business grew steadily until 2002 when some people began associating the business with the Kenyatta family.
To protect its brand, the brothers changed its name to Ouru Superstores LTD in 2004.
The business is family-run, with relatives comprising the majority of the senior management.
Family Ownership
Ouru Superstores is the brainchild of Mr. Ken Nyakundi Mogaka and Mr. Ken Mugambi Mogaka.
Mr Nyakundi is the current CEO of the business.
He is a marketing professional with decades of local and international experience gained through running various establishments.
He has been the managing director for the Ouru companies for over 20 years
His brother, Mr Ken Mogambi, is the owner of the prestigious La Serena Hotel along the Kisii-Migori road.
According to Kisii Finest, he leased his multi-million home to two doctors who turned it into the well-furnished hotel it is today.
He is also the owner of Ouru Power Ltd, which he reportedly established with the help of Chinese associates.
The firm deals in general supplies and manufactures torch batteries under the brand Kingpower.
Before joining Ouru Superstores, he worked at Cummins Engine Company for 10 years.
This instilled in him the hands-on experience needed as the CEO of Ouru Power.
There are also rumors that he may soon join the region’s political arena.
Despite their success, the brothers have managed to integrate the rest of their siblings into the family business.
Their sister, Irene Mogaka, is the operations manager of Ouru Superstores Ltd while Lucy M. Mogaka is the managing director.
Their brother, Zablon Mogaka, and his wife, Esther Kemuma Mogaka, are major shareholders of the business.
The Ourus also own other multimillion businesses in the town, including the Ouru Discount Centre, Ouru Twin Towers, and the Ouru Hyper Stores.
Ouru Plaza Ownership
Until 2016, the Mogaka family owned the multimillion Ouru Plaza building, a key landmark in Kisii town.
The prime property sits on a 0.054 ha. piece of land along the main Kisii-Kisumu highway next to the town’s old stage.
In 2016, the family put an advert in the Daily Nation that the building was on sale, leading to speculations about their fortunes.
The property was valued at a bidding price of sh 225 million.
Documents related to the auction showed that the building’s title deed was put under the name of Ms Esther Mogaka, wife of Mr. Ken Ouru.
The sale was attributed to the owner’s failure to service a loan she had taken a few years back.
The property comprises a basement parking, a number of shops, and ground to sixth-floor office space that houses banks, eateries, shops, and offices.
However, until the publication of this article, WoK could not ascertain whether the building was actually sold.
