Key Points
- Mama Ngina Kenyatta controls a $230 million empire spanning dairy, media, banking, and urban development, including a 13.2% stake in NCBA.
- Zarin Merali controls a $220 million empire through dominant stakes in Sameer Africa and Sasini Tea, strengthening Kenya’s agro-manufacturing sector.
- Mary-Ann Musangi manages a $100 million estate with holdings in Centum, KCB Group, and Haco Industries, preserving the Kirubi industrial legacy.
Kenya’s wealthiest women are not just business leaders, they are builders of empires that stretch across industries and borders, leaving a lasting imprint on the country’s economy. Through their businesses and investments, they are helping to drive national development, while reshaping the economic landscape of East Africa’s most dynamic economy.
At the top of this group is Mama Ngina Kenyatta, whose estimated net worth stands at $230 million. She anchors the Kenyatta family’s vast business interests, with a reach that spans dairy, banking, media, and real estate. She owns a 13.2 percent stake in NCBA Group and fully controls Brookside Dairy, which processes more than 60 percent of Kenya’s milk supply. Her family’s Northlands City project — a bold urban development outside Nairobi — reflects their long-term commitment to shaping Kenya’s future.
Zarin Merali, the steward of the Sameer Group legacy, oversees a diversified portfolio that touches key parts of Kenya’s economy. Her family holds a 74.06% stake in Sameer Africa and a 65.46 percent share in Sasini Tea, reinforcing their dominant position in agro-manufacturing and the export business, vital sectors that support thousands of rural livelihoods.
Mary-Ann Musangi, daughter of the late industrialist Chris Kirubi, continues to build on her father’s legacy. She holds significant stakes in Centum Investment Plc, KCB Group, and Haco Industries, keeping the Kirubi name at the heart of Kenya’s industrial growth and capital markets.
Billionaires.Africa has compiled a definitive list of the 10 richest women in Kenya, highlighting their remarkable achievements and enduring influence. These tycoons are not just shaping Kenya’s economy, they are helping to write the next chapter of Africa’s business story.
1. Mama Ngina Kenyatta
Sector: Diversified
Net Worth: $230 million
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. Billionaires.Africa values the Kenyatta family’s fortune at $230 million after liabilities.
2. Zarin Merali
Sector: Diversified
Net Worth: $220 million
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. Mary-Ann Musangi
Sector: Diversified
Net Worth: $100 million
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. Billionaires.Africa estimates the estate—spanning real estate, insurance, and healthcare—at $100 million, largely under Mary-Ann.
4. Leah Wanjiku Muguku
Sector: Agriculture & Real Estate
Net Worth: $50 million
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
Sector: Diversified
Net Worth: $40 million
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
Sector: Investments & Finance
Net Worth: $21.54 million
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
Sector: Legal & Investments
Net Worth: $10 million
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
Sector: Manufacturing
Net Worth: $7 million
Tabitha Karanja is the co-founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries, Kenya’s second-largest alcoholic beverage manufacturer after East African Breweries Limited. From producing fortified wines for rural markets, she grew Keroche into a national brand offering beers, vodkas, and wines, solidifying her place among Kenya’s top industrialists.
9. Esther Muchemi
Sector: Information Technology & Entrepreneurship
Net Worth: $5 million
Esther Muchemi is the founder and CEO of the Samchi Group of Companies, a diversified conglomerate with businesses in telecommunications, hospitality, microfinance, and real estate. As Kenya’s first M-Pesa agent, she helped pioneer the mobile money revolution. Her entrepreneurial leadership has made her a standout figure in Kenya’s business and technology sectors.
10. Flora Mutahi
Sector: Manufacturing
Net Worth: $2.5 million
Flora Mutahi is the founder and CEO of Melvin Marsh International, the brand behind Kenya’s first flavored tea lines. Under her leadership, Melvins Tea has expanded across East Africa and internationally. Beyond manufacturing, Mutahi has served as the first female chair of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and holds influential board positions across the private sector.
