The Richest Woman in Kenya: Unveiling Mama Ngina’s Tale of Success

Mama Ngina Kenyatta is the richest woman in Kenya and among the three women dollar billionaires in Africa. 

Did you know that she started her journey as a housemaid?  

At the age of 18, she was married off to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, who by then was 50 years her senior and that was the beginning of her journey to enormous wealth. As the first lady, she has had influential presence in Kenya’s political landscape for a long time.

But the main question usually is, how did she meet with Kenya's first President Mzee Kenyatta? 

I have written this story here on Fineducke, when you get time, check out this short piece; The Shocking Story of How Mama Ngina Ended Up Being Kenya's First Lady. 

The image above shows a photo of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Mama Ngina. 

 In the August 2022 elections, we saw Mama Ngina and her son former president Uhuru Kenyatta urging people from the mountain to vote for Baba, for the first time ever. It is ignorant to assume that she was doing that out of goodwill or for “Wanjiku”.Presidency comes with state resources and big business and therefore it would mean well for her as she has interests in various business sectors.

The elderly Mama Ngina Kenyatta also draws a monthly government stipend of over Ksh500,000 according to the Presidential Retirement Benefit Act, effective since 2003.

After the death of President Kenyatta, Mama Ngina Kenyatta inherited a huge business empire which she has continued to expand. She has secured investments across hospitality, banking, agriculture, real estate and ranching despite her not having any records of education. This poses the question if education really is the key as we were told in our childhood years.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest Women in Kenya in 2024

Mama Ngina Kenyatta and her family own Brookside Dairy, one of the largest dairy processors in East Africa. The company which was founded in 1993 controls 40% of Kenya’s dairy market as of 2023.

The image above shows Brookside Dairy Company. 

 Mama Ngina Kenyatta and family controls 13.2% of NCBA, formerly CBA, one of Kenya’s largest banks. Their combined stake is valued at 6.6 billion. She holds another 11.9% worth Ksh5.9 billion and another 5.7% valued at over Ksh2.7 billion at NCBA through different investment companies.

Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s family posseses land estimated at around 500,000 acres –approximately the size of Nyanza province acquired over decades ago by Mzee Kenyatta. The family owns land in Rift Valley, along Nairobi-Thika highway, in Kiambu, Rongai and on the coast.

Her very own includes a 26,000acre farm in Kiambu, 10,000 acre Gichea farm in Nakuru, in Rongai and beach plots on Coast. Using her husband’s influence, she was able to acquire cheap farms with exemption from land review by land control boards. The 2017 general election campaigns saw Kenyans asking Uhuru Kenyatta to donate some of their land to IDPs and the Mau Mau freedom fighters to demonstrate patriotism, an issue that fell on deaf ears.

Also Read: Types of Business Ventures Explored By the Richest People in Kenya

In 2014, Mama Ngina Kenyatta was accused of grabbing ancestral land in Gatundu by her brother- in-law, Peter Ngengi, but the case was dismissed.

Besides farms, other ventures that made Mama Ngina Kenyatta rich was the exportation of baby elephant ivory and mining. Through her connection she was able to acquire licences from the ministry of Wildlife and Natural resources to conduct sales of game trophies before a ban was imposed. She still in mining of gemstones up to date, which is partially a family business.

Lately, for the first time since independence, Mama Ngina Kenyatta and her family have little or no influence over proceedings in State House and are seen as anti-government. She is a great powerhouse and an example of a woman who grabbed every opportunity she saw.

Mama Ngina’s Biography

Born: 24 June 1933 (age 91 years), Kiambu County

Children: Uhuru Kenyatta, Muhoho Kenyatta, Kristina Pratt, Anna Nyokabi Muthama

Spouse: Jomo Kenyatta (m. 1951–1978)

Grandchildren: Jaba Kenyatta, Ngina Kenyatta, Jomo Kenyatta

Parents: Muhoho wa Gathecha, Anne Nyokabi Muhoho

Siblings: George Muhoho

Party: Kenya African National Union