Embu county is home to some of the country’s most fertile lands and beautiful landscape. It also has enterprising businessmen, powerful politicians and entertainers who play a key role in driving its economy.
WoK list of some of the richest known people from Embu county:
Patrick Njiru Kuria
Mr Njiru and his wife own Paleah Stores Limited. The business deals in building materials such as iron and cement and food products. According to the Nation, Mr. Njiru was the king of construction who had silently minted millions from his business for years. He is the owner of Kenya Mpya, a transport company that operates several public service vehicles.
They came into the limelight in 2021 after the Kenya Revenue Authority ordered that they pay Ksh9.3 billion in tax evasion allegation claims. They were accused of under-declaring their finances.
They asked for leniency as paying such an amount would have incapacitated their business. A ruling by Justice David Majanja helped save the couple’s business as they were ordered to pay Sh10 million in the following two weeks.
Peter Njagi
He is the founder of Riva Petroleum which opened for business in 1996. The University of Nairobi engineer graduate started off as a highway engineer before founding the business with a Sh45,000 Sacco loan. Today, the business has experienced exponential growth and it is reportedly worth billions.
Sarah Kabu
The co-founder of Bonfire Adventures is a popular figure in the entrepreneurial and social circles in Kenya. Together with her husband, the two have built a business worth billions and considered to be one of the best tours and travels agencies in the continent.
Growing up in Blue Valley in Embu country, she would never have thought her life would turn out as it did. However, the chance to organize a get together for friends would be the birth of a successful venture.
The Mugo Family
The family own the Izaak Walton Inn, a beautiful hotel located along Embu-Meru road. Named after English author Izaak Walton, the hotel was established in the 1930s and later sold to the Mugo Family.
The place has been patronized by a number of international travelers but one of their highly publicized moments was when Sir Richard Branson paid the establishment a visit.
John Mukundi
The Proprietor of Achievers College of Professionals in Embu had very humble beginnings. After pursuing his diploma, he went on to work as a bar attendant and teacher of accountancy. After a college failed to pay them for their teaching services for eight months, he quit and opened his own college.
The institution began with a Ksh8,000 loan from his friend and has since grown into a recognized education center in the area.
John Mukunji
He trounced seasoned politicians to clinch the Manyatta parliamentary seat under the UDA ticket. His life today is a far cry from where he started off in a village in Embu where success stories were unheard of.
Growing up in a humble background, he valued education and buried himself in books hoping they would open doors for him despite seeing other educated people amount to nothing.
After joining the University of Nairobi, he became a SONU member and immersed himself in campus politics. Later, he struggled to get an attachment during his third year. After rejections by companies, he decided employment would not be his way.
Hence, in fourth year he started ERS with Sh25,000 HELB loan. Today, the company that deals in renewable energy is a success providing employment to a number of youths.
Njue and Jane Kiarie
The couple own Morning Glory Plaza in Embu town, a place that plays hosts to several businesses. It is also said that they own several strategically placed buildings in Embu town.
They found themselves in the limelight after the Embu Environment and Land court ordered them to demolish their storeyed building on a grabbed plot and compensate the owner with Sh43 million.
The judge said the building encroached on the property of Cosmas Kathingu who was the plaintiff. They were given sixty days to do this and appealed the ruling.
Hon. Cecily Mbarire
Born in 1972 in Ndamunge, a tea growing village in Kanja, Runyenjes, her father was a councilor and her mother a teacher. She got into politics while at Egerton University and served as the chairperson of the Egerton University Students Association.
She was nominated to parliament in 2002 and in 2007 won the Runyenjes parliamentary seat.
She would again be nominated in 2017 before successfully competing for and winning the Embu gubernatorial race. A woman of firsts, she was Embu’s first female MP and is now its first female governor.
Martin Wambora
He served as the first governor of Embu county. He became the very first governor to be impeached. The Kenyan senate voted for his impeachment but he was reinstated. Members of County Assembly tried to impeach him four times unsuccessfully. He was re-elected in 2017.
Anne Kananu
He served as the governor of Nairobi county following the impeachment of Mike Sonko. Born in Embu county, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Security Management from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. She has previously served as a customer service representative and also worked with the Kenya Airports Authority.
